It's only human to believe that things can only be achieved with sacrifice and that great things require great sacrifice. It was this mentality that led our ancestors to sacrifice animals and even human beings at ancient altars. |
But rationally we can see that sacrifice is not always needs and that a good idea and good implementation and a vision for improving the world in some way can go much further than sacrifice and sacrifice alone without good ideas and good implementation will amount to nothing.
I'm not saying that maybe some extra work and sacrifice won't be needed but sacrifice shouldn't be thought of as an a-priori essential or even necessary element to success.
The line you're quoting "I desire mercy not sacrifice" does not mean what you think it means.
Sacrifice in that context is essentially apologizing for sinning. Not giving something up so that you gain something else. Unless you count giving up sin to gain something...
It's not a good thing.
The sister verse to that is "To obey is better than sacrifice".
To your point, sacrificing self-indulgence is really sacrificing addiction. Rather do something productive and worthwhile. And that may be quality time with your family or helping a non-profit etc.
The verse was used twice, once in Hosea 6 and the other in Matthew 9.
Hosea 6 clearly refers to burnt sacrificial offerings like killing animals. consider the full context:
"I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
Matthew 9:13 just quotes the verse in Hosea and talks more about loving others and being merciful to those who are sinning:
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Apologizing for sinning (ie. repentence) remains an essential part of Christian doctrine and the bible
I didn't assume Christianity or Judaism on your part. Though, it's less likely for a Jew to mistake sacrifice (for atonement) to forgoing things to be able to do other things.
But "sacrificing things" to work harder is still not the context of either.
I don't really understand the reason for your reply.
It's only human to believe that things can only be achieved with sacrifice and that great things require great sacrifice. It was this mentality that led our ancestors to sacrifice animals and even human beings at ancient altars. |
But rationally we can see that sacrifice is not always needs and that a good idea and good implementation and a vision for improving the world in some way can go much further than sacrifice and sacrifice alone without good ideas and good implementation will amount to nothing.
I'm not saying that maybe some extra work and sacrifice won't be needed but sacrifice shouldn't be thought of as an a-priori essential or even necessary element to success.