Are you unsure of your answer? Sacrificial love can feel risky. It stretches us beyond comfort and asks us to care for people we might rather avoid. Yet this is the kind of love that most reflects the heart of God.
Consider one believer who gives money to anyone who asks on the street. Family and friends warn him, “Some of them are scammers.” He calmly replies that it doesn’t matter. God gave him love and life without testing his worthiness, and he wants to give in the same spirit. “If someone is deceitful, God will deal with them.” For him, giving keeps his heart soft, grateful, and humble. He knows this practice isn’t for everyone, but he trusts the Holy Spirit to guide each believer into the kind of generosity their own growth requires—even when others don’t understand.
Another older believer knew her younger relative’s “business opportunity” was not real. She had already heard about the lost job and mounting bills. When they met, the younger woman sketched a few hurried diagrams and promised a great return if only someone would invest. The elder understood there would be no business, yet she wrote a check anyway.
Why? Something in her spirit sensed that the money would help keep a roof overhead and food on the table. She also knew her relative was ashamed and fragile, unable to face the truth just then. When her own child later asked, “Why did you give that money? No one else would,” she answered, “God gave me love and life when I couldn’t face my own truth. I’m just passing that grace along.” She prayed faithfully for her young relative. Years later, that younger woman did face reality and is now walking with Jesus. Again, this kind of giving is not for everyone—it must be led by the Spirit.
In Mark 10:17–23, Jesus lovingly tells a joyful rich man to sell what he has, give to the poor, and follow Him in order to gain eternal life. “At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (verse 22, NLT). The man left sad because his wealth owned his heart.
What owns yours—money, pride, reputation, comfort, old habits, defensiveness? Whatever we cling to most deeply shapes us most deeply.
Sacrificial love doesn’t start with heroic acts—and definitely not acts to intentionally put you in the spotlight. It starts with surrender. Ask Jesus to show you where He is inviting you to love beyond your comfort—and to give you the courage to say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll cheerfully do it.”
God Bless You!
Pastor Janice Fareed-Hardy