The only way to replace our selfish inclinations with a self-sacrificing mindset is to start with Jesus whose sacrificial life and death are our perfect example.  In fact, His attitude which is described so beautifully in Philippians 2 shows us that His whole purpose in coming into this world was to make the most supreme self-sacrifice of all time and eternity and what that cost Him in terms of leaving the glory of heaven and coming here:

 

“Let this MIND be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but

     made Himself of no reputation,

          taking the form of a bondservant, and

               coming in the likeness of men. And

                     being found in appearance as a man,

                            He humbled Himself and

                                 became obedient to the point of death,

                                       even the death of the cross.”  (Phil 2:5-8)

 

But that is not the end of the story!

 

“After He had offered one SACRIFICE for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Heb 10:12)

 

Those 7 downward steps of self-denial are matched by 7 upward steps of exultation and reward.

         “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him

               and given Him the name which is above every name,

                    that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

                         of those in heaven, and

                              of those on earth, and

                                   of those under the earth, and

                                        that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

                                        to the glory of God the Father.”  (Phil 2:9-11)

 

May that be an incentive for us too – self-sacrifice results in everlasting GLORY!

 

Probably none of us will have to choose whether to sacrifice our lives in a physical way – but all of us can make sacrificial choices such as resisting temptations or denying ourselves in order to serve others.

 

Self-denial is not a popular concept these days. I don’t think I’ve heard any sermons on it – at least not recently and I have heard a lot of sermons in my time!

 

But self-sacrifice, dying to self, self-denial are major New Testament themes.

 

If we are to reap the full benefits of self-denial we have to learn to say NO to the wrong things and YES to the right things – however hard that may be.

 

That little tiny word “NO” is one of the most powerful words in the world. If we use it to say NO to our own selfish and sinful desires then it has powerful effects.

 

Paul had a lot to say about this but it was not just theoretical, he is very open about his own struggles:

 

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells… For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:18-25)

 

So his advice is:

 

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:14)

 

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

 

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

 

“Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).

 

Paul practiced self-denial and he shows us how he did that in his personal life:

“I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

 

Self-sacrifice does not only involve denying the flesh.  It can be as simple as making sacrifices in order to serve other people.  For those in pastoral ministry or eldership “laying down our lives for the sheep” is what being a pastor should be all about, but sadly I see a modern trend where pastors want their people to serve their purposes and their programs while they earn the highest possible wage from their congregation in the process.

 

One of our problems with self-denial is that it is unattractive because it sounds so negative. It seems like it is all about what we can’t have, what we can’t do.  

 

Actually self-sacrifice is a very positive thing.  When we deny SELF we close the door on selfish plans and desires and open the door to something better.

 

Sacrificial giving is another aspect of this and also a good illustration of how self-sacrifice is always a blessing in the end.

 

Jesus said “Give and it will be given unto you” (Luke 6:38).

 

Sometimes it’s hard to give financially to the work of the Kingdom or to help someone with a substantial gift – it goes against our selfish inclinations but we can never out-give God and sooner or later sacrificial giving will be rewarded.  I have proved that many times.  

 

A pastor I know in America was given a $100 and he decided to give it away to someone with a greater need and then someone else gave him some money – so he gave it away again and this kept on happening.  Every time he gave it away the money came back – it only stopped when he stopped giving!

 

When the disciples made reference to what they had given up to follow Jesus - this is what He promised them:

 

Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”  (Mark 10:29-31)

 

Remember the door that Jesus opened by His self-sacrifice and the glory that is His in heaven because of it and – we are all living in the life, love and glory of that!

 

We would do well to follow His example by learning to deny the flesh, laying down our lives for others and giving sacrificially – thus walking the ancient path of self-sacrifice!