I hear it a lot.
“I’m giving up my weekend to go with the youth ministry to a retreat.”
“I’m giving up my Sunday morning to teach a kids’ class.”
“They’re giving up their summer to serve as camp counselors.”
“You’re giving up a year (or two, or five) of your life to serve in ministry (or missions, or whatever).”
But the idea that to choose to do one of these things with your time is “giving up” is all wrong. Sure, there are alternatives. Instead, a person could be watching Neflix or football, or playing minesweeper (does anyone do that anymore?), or sleeping in… or even doing something valuable and good like spending [more] time with their family or reading a book.
Nevertheless, we do a disservice to the church, and to those who serve, when we liken service in the church or another ministry to giving up.
All summer long I engaged with summer camp staff who had been “honored” by someone back home for “giving up their summer to work at camp.” But they were learning to see it differently. They were realizing that there was something far more significant going on. And as these guys humbly served, day after day, week after week, they were learning practical new skills. They were growing in their faith. And they were participating in the work of God to draw kids to Himself.
Sure, they had given some things up: their couch, their TV, constant access to Facebook, free time. But, for many of them, their real sacrifice wasn’t of stuff, it was of will.
In fact, Christ himself never focused on the things he would give up—though, certainly, his followers were often keenly aware of what they were leaving behind. Instead, Christ’s focus was on giving himself up. His was a sacrifice, not of stuff, but of his person. All he was, he offered up to his Father.
And these guys weren’t worried about what they were giving up either. No, they were humbling themselves according to the example of Christ. Not giving up their time, but stepping up to serve where others may not. Not giving up a better paying job, but stepping up to share the Gospel—the greatest “job” ever.
Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
And that’s what the church needs. Not more people willing to give up their time or their stuff, but more people willing to follow Christ’s example and give themselves up.
If you’re a youth pastor or pastor, check your language next time you ask for volunteers. Are you apologizing to people for what they’re missing or inviting them to humbly step up to something greater?
If you’re a missionary, do you wake up every morning thinking about all the things you’re missing? (I know there were days when I did.) Or are you thinking about the blessing it is to be a participant in God’s work, wherever it is you are.
If you’re leading a nonprofit, raising funds for one, or there in some other capacity, do you see your staff, donors and volunteers as people who are giving something up when they participate in your ministry, or as people who are stepping up to help the ministry accomplish all that God desires through it?
Maybe you’re the person who hasn’t signed up yet because of what you might have to give up. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for you to step up too. And someday, when you look back, I think you’ll humbly agree that every phase, every weekend, every evening that you served wasn’t giving up anything after all.