People who succeed in business or in other financial matters usually do so after giving of themselves to their jobs or careers. The higher one rises in a company is normally a reflection of the sacrifice he endures.
Sacrifice is required in nearly every endeavor worth the effort. There are few spiritual goals that result from an epiphany. St. Paul experienced an epiphany that caused him to quit persecuting Christians. In blinding light, he was thrown from his horse and was temporarily blinded. But, Paul also endured the trials and sacrifices required of him to become the apostle he became. In the end, he suffered the ultimate sacrifice—dying for his beliefs. Although there are still believers today who die for their faith, most of us won’t be called upon to suffer in such a manner. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, the fruits of our faith, the fruits of our beliefs, are the result of personal sacrifices we endure in our quest to grow in our knowledge of Christ. There are no gimmes. We do not grow much at all through osmosis. Our growth in Christ is proportionate to our efforts to know him through our religions and through scripture. There are no free passes.
If I am to lose weight, I will have to sacrifice. If I am to become better conditioned, I will have to sacrifice. I will have to push away from the table when I become sated. I will have to jog or run or walk even when I’d rather lie on the couch or engage in some other inert activity. I will not lose weight or become better conditioned by continuing to do what I am doing now. I will not receive any “gimmes” in my goal to improve my health.
I must develop a new attitude towards life. As I grow older, my natural inclination is to seek the easier life. If I look back over my life and if I am honest with myself I will acknowledge that the successes I’ve enjoyed, regardless if physical, spiritual or mental in nature or regardless if they involve my career, they have usually been the result of personal sacrifices. Anyone who has enjoyed some degree of success in life will admit the same thing: success without sacrifice is worthless. Therefore, I must realize that age alone, will not mean I will not have to sacrifice. I certainly will. Perhaps the difference is in the goals I seek compared to the goals I sought when I was younger. My goals are not as lofty as they once were but, considering that I do not have the physical skills I once had, my goals are still challenging and worthy.
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