Last week, I had the privilege of serving alongside 23 youth and adults in Chimbote, Peru. We arrived on Sunday and immediately began work—tearing down a family’s home to rebuild it from the ground up.

At first, I found myself energized by the demolition and the initial stages of construction. But when it came time to prime and paint—a slow, repetitive, and meticulous task—I felt my motivation slip. That moment made me ask a deeper question: Why are we often only willing to serve when it’s satisfying to us?

We tend to put limits on our service. We’ll give our time, energy, or money—but often only when it’s convenient. If it fits into our summer schedule, we may add it on as a personally beneficial experience to go make a difference. We give strategically so that we can expect a return, even if it’s just the good feeling of making a difference.

But that’s not sacrifice. True sacrifice is a higher form of service—it costs us something. It doesn’t always feel good in the moment. It might feel like drudgery. In fact, it should hurt. A true sacrifice is painful. But it’s exactly in those hidden, unseen, and unglamorous acts that the Gospel shines brightest. For: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

That’s what sacrificial service does—it moves us from self-centered fear to Christ-like love.

This week, don’t just ask: “Where can I serve?”
Ask instead: “Where can I serve sacrificially?”
Not for credit, but for Christ.