Undeserved

It’s an age-old question: must someone be deserving before we make a sacrifice for them? Should love and sacrifice be reserved only for the ‘worthy’? If so, Christ’s life and death defy all logic.

Think about it. Jesus Christ, the Son of God entered a world that didn’t welcome Him. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead. Yet, at the climax of His story, the same people He served demanded His crucifixion.

They mocked Him, spat on Him, and pierced His side. By every human standard of ‘worthiness,’ they failed spectacularly. But He didn’t hesitate. His love was neither transactional nor conditional. It was sacrificial, boundless, and completely undeserved.

Now, let’s bring it closer to home. Would you give your time, money, or even forgiveness to someone who’s insulted or wronged you? Many would answer with a firm ‘no.’ After all, sacrifice costs something, and shouldn’t that cost be reserved for those who have earned it?

But here’s the problem, worthiness is often subjective. The very people we deem unworthy may have their reasons for why they acted the way they did. What if Jesus had applied our logic? What if He had waited for humanity to earn His love? Spoiler: we never would have.

The truth is, real sacrifice doesn’t keep score. It doesn’t wait for apologies or guarantees of changed behaviour. It is, by nature, risky. Sacrifice that demands worthiness is not truly sacrifice, it’s an exchange. And love, in its purest form, gives freely, expecting nothing in return.

The concept of sacrificing for those who have wronged us feels unnatural because it requires humility, vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of justice as we define it. Human beings instinctively seek fairness. We want actions to have consequences and wrongs to be righted before we extend grace.

But as the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.” Sacrifice does the same. It offers an opportunity for redemption not just for the recipient but also for the giver.

Sacrificing for the unworthy transforms us in ways we don’t expect. It stretches our capacity for love, teaches us patience, and redefines what it means to be truly human. It’s not about letting people walk all over us or excuse bad behaviour. Rather, it’s about recognizing that love is most powerful when it’s least deserved.

This isn’t to say every situation demands sacrifice. There’s wisdom in knowing when to give and when to walk away. Sacrifice born of guilt, manipulation, or obligation is harmful, it erodes both dignity and well-being. Christ’s sacrifice was a choice rooted in love, not coercion. Similarly, our sacrifices should flow from love and purpose, not from societal pressure or self-destructive tendencies.

So, must someone be worthy before you sacrifice for them? The answer is simple but uncomfortable: no. True sacrifice, the kind that transforms hearts and changes destinies, isn’t about worthiness. It’s about love, a love that sees beyond flaws and failures, a love that dares to give even when it’s not reciprocated.

As we reflect on Christ this Christmas, let us remember that His sacrifice wasn’t about us deserving it. It was about His boundless love. May we take that example and apply it in our lives, not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary.

As G.K. Chesterton wisely put it, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.” Sacrifice, especially for the undeserving, is not easy. But in the end, it’s the only kind that changes the world.

As you celebrate Christmas, remember to reconcile and express your love to all, and not only those who are deserving of your love. Love knows no boundaries. Merry Christmas

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