Many of us strive to live a life that pleases God, often thinking that the more we do for Him, the more He will be pleased with us. We work tirelessly to impress God with our good deeds, sacrifices, and grand gestures, hoping to earn His favor. But what if I told you that this approach is not only misguided but also costly? In fact, obedience is often cheaper than sacrifice, and it’s the key to unlocking true freedom and joy in our relationship with God.
The Misconception of Sacrifice
We often believe that the more we sacrifice, the more God will be pleased with us. We think that if we just do more, give more, and suffer more, God will somehow be more impressed with us. But this mindset is rooted in performance-based thinking, not grace. The Bible tells us that there is nothing we can do to make ourselves acceptable before God outside of the sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:12). The sacrifice of Jesus brought grace to us, and grace is enjoyed through obedience, not sacrifice.
The Simplicity of Obedience
Obedience is not about grand gestures or elaborate sacrifices. It’s about simple, everyday choices to follow God’s leading. Obedience is grace-motivated, not performance-based. It’s about trusting that God has already taken care of everything we need, and that He will lead us into what He has prepared for us.
As Isaiah 45:2 says, “As I lead you, I will level mountains and break the iron bars on bronze gates of cities.” God is not going to lead us into something that He hasn’t already taken care of. He wants us to trust Him and follow His lead, not try to impress Him with our own efforts.
Let’s examine the story of Naaman, the Syrian commander, to see how obedience is always cheaper than sacrifice:
In 2 Kings 5:1-14, Naaman, a mighty warrior, suffers from leprosy. He hears of a prophet in Samaria who can heal him and embarks on a grand journey with gifts and letters of introduction. He expects a grand reception from the prophet Elisha, but instead, Elisha simply sends a messenger instructing Naaman to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River.
Naaman is taken aback by the simplicity of the instructions and initially refuses. He believes his status and wealth deserve more elaborate treatment. However, his servants persuade him to try it, and to his astonishment, his leprosy is cured! Naaman returns to Elisha, acknowledging the God of Israel as the true God. He offers gifts, but Elisha refuses, explaining that the healing was a free gift from God. Naaman departs, humbled and grateful, with a newfound faith in the God of Israel.
Key Takeaways from Naaman’s Story
- Access to divine instruction: Naaman had a covenant person in his life who could guide him to the solution. As children of God, we carry the solution to the challenges around us, and we shouldn’t underrate ourselves.
- The power of simplicity: The instruction to dip himself in the river was simple, yet powerful enough to cleanse his leprosy.
- God’s Ways vs. Our Expectations: Naaman’s initial frustration stemmed from his expectations of how God would act. Many people today struggle with the simplicity of the gospel, sometimes missing the profound truth in it (2 Corinthians 11:3). God doesn’t operate according to our expectations, but according to His ways.
- The frustration of doing what God never asked: The frustration many experience comes from attempting to fulfill roles or perform acts that God never required. Many people, including preachers, add to their ministries what God never required from them, leading to severe pain and damage in their lives, marriages, and health.
The Freedom of Obedience
Obedience is not about earning God’s favor or impressing Him with our good deeds. It’s about trusting in His goodness and following His lead. When we choose to obey God, we experience freedom from the burden of performance-based thinking. We are no longer bound by the need to constantly prove ourselves to God or others.
In conclusion, obedience is indeed cheaper than sacrifice. It’s the key to unlocking true freedom and joy in our relationship with God. Let’s choose to trust in God’s goodness and follow His lead, rather than trying to impress Him with our own efforts.