Sacrificial Leaders
When I was 35, I was asked to be the president of a local business chapter, I felt so honored to be asked. The commitment was every Friday night, and I was excited to lead in this new capacity. The challenge came when my daughter made the dance team. Her competitions were held on Friday nights. I had to decide and sacrifice one of the commitments. I prayed and got a sense that God wanted me to be there for my daughter. I attended all the competitions and even drove the van. Even now 26 years later my daughter still talks about those times. It was absolutely the right decision.
Sacrifice is a foundational principle in the Kingdom of God, yet it often feels out of place in the modern workplace. Business culture tends to reward speed, self-promotion, and personal gain. But Jesus offers a different path. In John 12:24, He says, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces a harvest.” This principle applies not only to spiritual life, but directly to how we lead, build, and make decisions in business.
Sacrifice does not change God—it changes us. When God invites us to give something up, it is rarely about loss; it is about transformation. In business, that transformation shows up in the way we think, lead, and measure success.
Sacrifice and Long-Term Business Health
One of the most common sacrifices leaders are called to make is choosing long-term health over short-term gain. This might look like prioritizing integrity over profit, even when competitors are cutting corners. It may mean investing in systems, training, or safety before the return is visible. These choices can feel costly, but they create organizations built on trust, stability, and sustainable growth.
Another area where sacrifice is required is control. Many leaders hesitate to delegate because of fear—fear of mistakes, inefficiency, or loss of authority. Yet releasing responsibility allows others to grow and increases overall capacity. What we refuse to release remains limited, but what we entrust to others multiplies.
Sacrifice also appears in how leaders handle people. Addressing conflict rather than avoiding it, extending grace instead of reacting defensively, and taking time to develop employees when productivity might temporarily slow are all forms of sacrifice. These decisions build healthy culture, loyalty, and engagement—elements that drive long-term success but cannot be rushed.
Laying Down Recognition and Personal Ambition
There are seasons when sacrifice means laying down personal recognition. Many leaders carry responsibility behind the scenes with little acknowledgment. When leaders elevate others rather than promote themselves, they create environments where teams flourish. Paradoxically, those who sacrifice visibility often gain deeper influence.
At times, God may ask us to release something tangible—a role, a contract, a relationship, or even a strategy that once worked but no longer aligns with His direction. Letting go can feel risky, yet obedience positions us for what God desires to grow next. The seed falling into the ground looks like loss, but it is preparation for multiplication.
Leading with Faith, Not Fear
In business, sacrifice is not poor stewardship or passivity. It is intentional, faith-filled leadership. It is trusting that God sees beyond the spreadsheet and understands the future better than we do. Sacrifice does not change God, but it shapes us into leaders capable of stewarding greater influence.
The question for every leader is not whether sacrifice will be required, but whether we will respond in faith. When the seed falls, the harvest follows—and in God’s economy, it is always worth the surrender.