In a world that prioritizes comfort, convenience, and ease, the Christian call to sacrificial love and service can feel countercultural. Yet, the Bible teaches that true fulfillment and joy come not from pursuing a life of comfort but from following the example of Jesus, who laid down His life for others. This challenges us to ask: Are we willing to be inconvenienced for the cause of Christ? Are we willing to lay down the temporary for the eternal? Are we willing to give, expecting nothing in return?
Our culture often equates purpose with personal fulfillment and happiness. We are told to chase careers, achievements, and experiences that make life easier and more enjoyable. But the Bible gives us a different picture of purpose. Romans 12:13 commands us to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Purpose, from a biblical perspective, is rooted in serving others, welcoming the stranger, and living out the love of Christ.
Sacrificial love, as modeled by Jesus, is not convenient. In Luke 14:12-14, Jesus instructs us not to invite those who can repay us but to invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” His call to action goes beyond offering comfort to ourselves—it involves stepping into the lives of others, bearing burdens, and offering hospitality that may disrupt our personal plans.
Following Jesus’ Radical Example
Jesus’ life was a radical departure from comfort. He did not seek an easy life, but a meaningful one, filled with compassion for the marginalized and the weary. In Matthew 11:28, He offers an invitation to those who are burdened: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus was never too busy or too comfortable to care for those in need, and as His followers, we are called to model is heart posture to our neighbor.
In a world that prioritizes comfort, we must ask ourselves: Are we willing to disrupt our routines, our schedules, and our comforts for the sake of loving others as Jesus did? Are we willing to be inconvenienced for the cause of Christ?
The world’s version of the “good life” often leaves no room for suffering or sacrifice. We are taught that comfort is king, and that avoiding hardship is the ultimate goal. But as Christians, we are called to redefine what the good life truly is. It’s not about avoiding discomfort—it’s about embracing the purpose that God has for us, even if it involves inconvenience or suffering.
Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” This is not just a moral obligation but an invitation to participate in the kingdom work of Christ. Purpose is found in living for something greater than ourselves, in recognizing the inherent dignity in others, and in serving them with love, even when it costs us something.
Building a Culture of Sacrificial Love
How can we create communities and churches that reflect this countercultural love? It starts with small acts of hospitality and care. We are called to welcome the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the overlooked—not because it’s easy, but because it’s the way of Christ.
We bear witness to the love of God when we open our hearts and homes, when we see others as image-bearers of God, and when we choose to be inconvenienced for the sake of loving them well. This kind of love is radical in a culture that values personal comfort above all else. Yet, it’s precisely this kind of sacrificial love that builds the kingdom of God.
Saying yes to Jesus often means saying no to comfort. But in that choice, we find deeper purpose, greater joy, and lasting fulfillment. As 1 John 4:19-21 reminds us, “We love because He first loved us.” Our love for others flows out of the abundant love we have received from Christ, and it’s through this love that we fulfill our God-given purpose.
Are we willing to say yes, even when it disrupts our plans? Are we willing to take up the call to love sacrificially, knowing that it may involve inconvenience?
Embracing a Life of Purpose
The Christian life is not about avoiding discomfort; it’s about embracing the mission of Christ with open hands. Our purpose is not found in living for ourselves but in living for others, in serving, and in bearing burdens. Jesus showed us that true life is found in sacrifice, not in ease.
The ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God laying down His own life for us was more than an act that brought redemption to those that follow Him. The cross is an anchor for our life. It is an anchor for our minds, for our behaviors, and for our choices. May we be a people of sacrifice and heavenly purpose.
