Sweet-smelling Sacrifices

Sweet-Smelling Sacrifices

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18

Not too long ago our family welcomed two new children into our home through adoption. It was a huge adjustment adding a five-year-old and two-year-old, especially when we already had a two-year-old at home! To help out, my church family posted a sign-up sheet asking people to volunteer to provide meals for us. I ended up not having to cook one meal in three weeks, and that gave us more time to focus on our transition.

Paul wrote about the gifts the church at Philippi sent to him through a believer named Epaphroditus. He said that to God, those gifts were a sweet-smelling sacrifice. And as the recipient of many wonderful gifts from others in the recent past, I can attest to the fact that sometimes they really do smell sweet!

My friend Sherry Gore is a member of the Sunnyside Amish Mennonite Church in Sarasota, Florida. In her book Simply Delicious Amish Cooking, she describes another such sacrifice:

Daughter Shannon and I were walking up to the door of the fellowship hall Friday evening when she looked at me and said, “I didn’t know they were having a singing.” They weren’t. It was Lester Hostetler, sitting in as auctioneer for the night. The youth brought in a little over $2,000 that night. . . . Most of the funds raised came from services auctioned off to the highest bidders. Among those offered were sewing, baking, cleaning, car repair, lawn work, a Dominican dinner for six to eight people, prepared by Kris and Rebecca Knepp, and a four-hour water-skiing excursion by Tim Gingerich.

God tells us to give to others and to share what we have. This can happen in so many ways, but when we offer up our best, it becomes a fragrant offering to God. Not only do those you bless and serve appreciate it, but He does too.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You so much for all those who have given me good gifts that required their time and sacrifice. Bless them for their efforts, and show me whom I can pour my best into next.