A woman in Israel had been childless for years but had faithfully prayed for a son. She even “made a vow” to God that if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God’s service (1 Samuel 1:11).

After years of worship and prayer, Hannah conceived and bore a son. After the boy was weaned, she took him to Eli the priest and fulfilled her vow. She gave her longed-for son to the Lord. The boy, named Samuel, “grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men” (1 Samuel 2:26) and ultimately became God’s chief prophet in Israel (1 Samuel 3:19-21)—all because a mother was devoted to the Lord and kept her promise to Him. Years later, King Solomon would write, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it .... Better not to vow than to vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).

Being devoted to God is not without sacrifice. But with such sacrifice comes blessing.

Sacrifice is the giving up of something we genuinely value in order to express our devotion to God.
John Benton