Elect Lady's Corner

There’s an old adage that says: “It doesn’t cost you anything to be nice!” Generally speaking, that is true! But, sometimes doing good can be a sacrifice! Sacrifice can be defined as: “to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy especially for an ideal, belief, or end; or to sell something at a loss.” Those are all nice and generous deeds, but they do cost you something. 

Examples of sacrifice could be: 1) She sacrificed going to college and got a job to help her family financially. 2) He sacrificed his social life in order to devote himself to earning a degree. 3) These soldiers fought for their country to the point they sacrificed their lives. 4) She sacrificed the ill treatment of her in laws for the sake of her spouse. 5) Mothers sacrifice a lot of their personal pleasures in order to raise their children. 6) Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 

So, a sacrifice can be simply defined as: “something given up for the sake of others; so, anything sacrificial is usually considered a selfless act.” That’s why it is so important to do what is right even if it costs you! Some of the greatest things in life require sacrifices that will pay off in the latter years, especially when it comes to sufferings. 

Joseph suffered many things because of the jealousy of his own blood brothers; who sold him to strangers in another country at the age of 17; then he was falsely accused of raping his master’s wife while separated from his family for over 22 years. But, because Joseph was willing to suffer and do what was right, he later was the cause of total preservation for the lives of his entire family as well as the known world. 

Then, there was the virgin Mary who was willing to suffer the shame of being an unwed Mother while engaged to another man. She had to deal with the uncertainty if her fiancé would terminate their engagement. Then she had the long tedious journey to Bethlehem by traveling on an uncomfortable donkey in her latter term of her expectancy and gave birth to her first-born son in a stable. 

But the latter end of her sufferings brought great joy and prominence because she became the Mother of Jesus, the son of God, Who was the Deliverer for all mankind that faced eternal death. This happened because Mary chose to suffer and do what was right even if it cost her. Today, she is recognized as the Virgin Mary who birthed the Son of God, and her name is forever written in the genealogy of Israel’s greatest king, King David and the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. 

Then, there was Job, one of the most suffering men in the Bible who certainly fits this analogy. But, like Job, what do you do when you’ve done your best to do everything right, and it seems like bad is the bill that shows up at the end of your receipt. God allowed Satan to test Job, but Job didn’t know he was being tested. But God testified that Job was upright, perfect, feared God, and shunned evil; and although Job was a wealthy man, he always honored and reverenced God for what he had.  

Job would also make sacrifices to God for his ten children, in case they sinned against God when they had celebrations. But, after all the good Job did, he faced one of the most horrible days of his life! Sabeans raided his land and attacked and killed all his farmhands, and then stole all his animals. Afterwards, fire fell from heaven and burned up all the sheep and the shepherds. 

Then, 3 bands of Chaldean raiders stole all his camels and killed all his servants. But, when Job heard that a tornado had hit the home where all 10 of his children were celebrating and they were all dead, Job stood up and tore his robe in grief and fell to the ground and worshipped God and said: “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 

But the last verse in Job chapter 1 is so powerful and significant that said: “…Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Remember, just because it’s hard or you don’t understand, does not mean God is not in it for your good. The latter part of Job’s sacrifice and suffering (along with him being healed from excruciating pain from boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head) God gave Job back double for all his troubles. 2 Timothy 2:12 said concerning Jesus: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him…”  So, no matter what you’re going through in life don’t ever give up the right for the wrong, it will pay off in the end. 

Remember NGUKOG: which means Never Give Up, Keep On Going, and Do What’s Right Even If It Costs!