The chicken and the pig were discussing what sacrifice means when considering the breakfast meal for humans. The chicken did not think that sacrifice was such a big deal, but the pig did. To the pig it meant total commitment but to the chicken it was just giving.
Parents make sacrifices for their children. Some of those sacrifices may never be known to the children. Some sacrifices may become known later in life when the parents talk lovingly of the child’s upbringing. If those sacrifices were despised, it would subordinate them in the minds of both parent and child. How can one do that with what the parents have done? How can one gamble with the sacrifice of the parents? This may be done is several ways. The parents may have worked hard to have a good name in the community. They could have done without to make sure that the bills were paid. The parents could have been charitable people; all building up the name of the family. The children go to these merchants and set up accounts. The children have no scruples about them and charge up large amount on each account. The children have gambled with the parents sacrifice. What a shame to treat all the hard work and sacrifice of the parents as though it were nothing.
Here are three passage for your consideration, each on the sacrifice of Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Then Ephesians 5:2 states, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Hebrews 9:26 tells us, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (The underlining and bold are done for emphasis.)
Gambling means 1 a : to play a game for money or property b : to bet on an uncertain outcome 2 : to stake something on a contingency : take a chance.”[1]
Christianity is not a game. There is a certain outcome in Christianity. One will either go to heaven or hell. There is no middle ground. Some religions propose that such is the case but they do not have Bible to back that up. But some do gamble with the Sacrifice of Christ.
How can we gamble with the Sacrifice of Christ? Just as the children of the sacrificial parents despised the sacrifices they made, we, by not living up to the standards that are set by Christ, do the same. We are taking a chance! We can let the cares of this life pull our eyes off Jesus. We can let temptations draw us closer to the devil momentarily forgetting what Christ has sacrificed for us. This would be gambling with the Sacrifice of Christ! He gave His life for us so that we might live with Him and God for eternity. To take the chance of dying in a condition outside of Christ is to gamble with the Sacrifice of Christ.
We sing a song, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give.” There are cares of this life that need to handled. Taking care of one’s mate is required of God. Husbands are to love their wives even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Wives are to be taught to love their own husbands as well as their children. Fathers are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit to write, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8). Yet many may let their mate, or children stand in the way of their commitment to God. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). When we let our family stand in the way of our total commitment to God we are gambling with the Sacrifice of Christ.
We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Our lives are to be living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2). The only way some will see Christ or God is by the lives that we live. The only way some will know of the sacrifice of Christ is by the life that we lead. Are we gambling with the sacrifice of Christ? Are we letting others see what that sacrifice means to us? Some may not see that sacrifice clearly because of the way we talk. We may not use ugly words; we may not use curse words. It may be the way we say something. We might say something mean or use a harsh or sarcastic tone of voice to a person. Is this what Christ would do? We are trifling with someone soul; we are taking a chance that need never be taken. Remember this is gambling. We are gambling with the soul of someone and we are gambling with the Sacrifice of Christ. We can be saying the truth to someone but the way we say that truth makes all the difference in the world. We are not abiding by the standards that Christ has set. Let us not be guilty of gambling with Sacrifice of Christ in this manner.
By our actions, we can gamble with the Sacrifice of Christ. We are taking a chance with our eternal destiny and the eternal destiny of others. By our speech we can gamble with the Sacrifice of Christ. We are told to have our speech seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Many times we talk before we ought and when we do we get into trouble. This is gambling with the Sacrifice of Christ.
Think on these things.
Love, Keith
[1]Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (10th ed.). Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.
