The Chicken or the Pig ?
By : Ng Wah Lok
Text : Luke 21:1-4
"Once upon a time, a pig and a chicken were looking for work. They came upon a church sign which was advertising a bazaar and breakfast which was going to be held in a few days. At the bottom of the sign the menu was given, it read “Help needed to serve breakfast with Ham and eggs. Apply for job here”. The chicken turned to the pig and said, "See! This is an ideal place for me to work. I just give them my eggs and I will be well fed.
"Yes," said the pig, "but yours is only a contribution, mine is a SACRIFICE."
Luke 21:1-4 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. I tell you the truth, he said, this poor woman has put in more then all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.
Definition of Sacrifice- The offering of something that is precious, that has value and is important to us.
Romans 12:1-Therefore, I urge you, bothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship
Before we look at sacrifice, we must remember that obedience is a perquisite of sacrifice.
1 Sam 15:22-To obey is better then sacrifice.
Saul sacrificed but it was not accepted because he did obey the instructions given by the prophet. God rejected his sacrifices.
On the other hand, the disciples of Jesus responded to his call. They left their jobs and followed Jesus when they were called. They were following a specific instruction of Jesus. They basically obeyed Jesus’ call and sacrificed their whole life following Him.
God doesn’t call us to sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice, but as a response of obedience. Sacrifice is to be done as an act of obedience
Obedience must be the foundation of sacrifice.
Here are 3 important lessons on sacrifice.
1. SACRIFICE MUST COST US SOMETHING VALUABLE
The widow gave out of her poverty. A sacrifice isn’t a sacrifice unless it costs you something
V4 - All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.
What did it cost Jesus to bring salvation to the world ?
a) Leave his glory in heaven.
b) Betrayed by Judas
c) Physical suffering on the cross
d) Forsaken by his Father.
e) Denied by His disciples
This is the final incident in Jesus’ public ministry. Judas would soon betray Him. Yet Jesus took time to teach on this lesson from the widow’s sacrifice.
She was not only poor. She was a widow. Yet she put in all she had to live so that she could bless someone else.
Has following Jesus cost us anything ?
a) Cost us time – Friday, Sunday, Praying, Study God’s word ?
b) Cost us money – Tithe and offering, Giving to poor & missions
c) Cost us comfort ? Persecution in some countries ? Lives ?
d) Cost us our careers because of God’s calling ?
e) Cost us misunderstandings in our families ?
Do you come to God’s house for what you can give or what you can get ?
God give, gives, gives and forgives. Man gets ,gets, gets and forget
If we care for something, we are usually ready to sacrifice for it.
How much do your care for God’s kingdom ?
Giving our left-overs to God is not sacrifice.
2. SACRIFICE CONSIDERS OTHERS BEFORE OURSELVES
Why did the widow give the 2 copper coins ? Because she must have thought that there were some others who needed her 2 copper coins more than she did. She considers the need of others before her own.
Jesus also showed us sacrifice by his own example.
John 19:25-27
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Take a look at what Jesus was enduring at this moment when he was hanging on the cross. Not only was He going through excruciating physical pain, but He was also enduring extreme humiliation and extreme apathy concerning His pain.
Even in the midst of all that hurt him, Jesus considered that His natural mother had needs and arranged for John to look after her.
Jesus considered others even though He was hurting Himself.
3. SACRIFICE IS A CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE
Matt. 20:28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Jesus chose to die for our sins.
Josh 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
What you become tomorrow
depends on what you choose today.
An athlete chooses to discipline his own body to win the prize
A soldier chooses to risk his life for his own country.
A farmer chooses to work hard to bring in a good harvest.
The athlete, soldier and farmer chooses to make sacrifices to be successful. While others are enjoying themselves, they have chosen to spend their time to do what ever it takes.
Conclusion
People usually fall into 2 categories.
a) The Crowd
b) The Core
The crowd was with Jesus when he performed miracles.
John 6:2 And a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.
However , when Jesus started to teach about the cross, the crowd disappeared leaving behind a small core group.
The crowd came for what they can get. The core remained behind for what they can give.
John 6:66-69 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Remember 666 –number of the beast
A small core group of disciples were left behind.
Many were not willing to sacrifice to follow Jesus. When Jesus was finally being tried, the masses turned against him. They did not want to carry the cross.
Conclusion : 3 lessons on sacrifice
COST…...CONSIDER OTHERS…….CHOICE
Anybody can be a chicken and make a contribution out of our surplus. In the process of laying her eggs, a chicken makes so much noise and everyone knows about it. That is not sacrifice.
The pig on the other hand loses his life and ends up on the dinner table. That is sacrifice.
Are you the chicken or the pig ?
