The Privilege of Being Poured Out

📖 Reflections on Oswald Chambers’ “The Destitution of Service”
📸 Photo Credit: Unsplash

When we were recently in Belize, we heard a story that stood in stark contrast to our modern way of thinking. The ancient Mayans played a ball game so difficult that scoring a point could take days. But for the one who won, the reward was something that defied the expectations of our tour group—the privilege of being sacrificed to the gods.

The Mayans believed that the gods deserved the best, not the worst. They did not offer up the losers but rather the champion, the strongest, the most skilled. And this winner did not shrink from his fate; he embraced it as an honor. His life, given in sacrifice, would bring blessings to his people—rain for the parched fields, favor from the gods, and continued prosperity.

As our guide explained this to us, the reactions around me were predictable—horror, disbelief, rejection of the very idea that someone would willingly accept such an outcome. But to me, it immediately resonated with a deeper truth, one that Oswald Chambers highlights in today’s devotional: true service in Christ is not about self-preservation but about being joyfully poured out for the sake of others.

A Life Spent, Not Hoarded

Paul understood this well. In 2 Corinthians 12:15, he writes:

“Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

Paul did not serve with reservation. He did not calculate whether he would be appreciated or whether his efforts would be reciprocated. His life was one of complete surrender—gladly spent for the sake of those he ministered to, whether they acknowledged it or not. Like the Mayan champion who gave himself for the good of his people, Paul saw his life as an offering to be given, not protected.

This mindset runs counter to the modern world, where success is measured in accumulation—of wealth, status, influence, security. Even in Christian circles, it is tempting to serve with an eye on the return: Will this be appreciated? Will I be recognized? But in the Kingdom of God, the highest calling is to be poured out. Not to grasp, but to give. Not to demand, but to surrender.

Jesus Himself modeled this. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He did not hold on to His divine privileges but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant, humbling Himself even to the point of death—the ultimate sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-8).

The world cannot comprehend this kind of thinking. It recoils at the thought of laying down rights, of embracing suffering, of willingly choosing the path of self-denial. But for those who know Christ, it is not loss—it is gain. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Joy in the Sacrifice

Oswald Chambers put it this way:

“The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples’ feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God.”

What does this look like in daily life? It may mean serving in unseen ways, loving when it is not returned, giving when it is not acknowledged. It may mean going wherever God calls, without regard for the cost. It means surrendering our lives to Christ—not as a loss, but as the highest privilege.

Like the Mayan champion who saw sacrifice as an honor, Paul delighted to be spent for the sake of the gospel. And we, too, have the privilege of offering ourselves daily—not as a begrudging duty, but as joyful worship.

Prayer of Confidence

Father, You have placed within us the very life of Christ, a life that was never meant to be hoarded, but given. You have made us vessels to be poured out, not out of duty, but out of joy. We trust You to express Your self-giving love through us today, without thought of recognition, without hesitation, without reserve. Thank You for the privilege of laying down our lives—not as a loss, but as gain, knowing that every act of surrender is held in Your hands and used for eternal purposes. We rejoice in this, resting in the sufficiency of Christ in us.

Amen.