Sacrifice is something offered to God as an offering for different purposes, it could be for sin committed to abtain forgiveness under the old covenant. It can be peace offering, it can be for Thanksgiving or as first fruit offering.
But thanks be to God who has offered up his only begotten son for us, such that we do not need any other sacrifice of any animal to God again. Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. What we now sacrifice to God is the fruit of our lips and our substance as an offering. Solomon offered a sacrifice of Thanksgiving to God that moves God. God told him to ask whatever he want and it will be done for him. The main point here is that we should be thankful at all times, Solomon was thanking God for giving him the thrown of David his father in spite of the contention for it. Then he was given as open check to ask whatever he want, that is the blessings that comes from thanksgiving it opens more door of blessing.
The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you. - 1 King 3:4-5 NIV.
Here is another dimension to the meaning of sacrifice. When you give up something very important in exchange for something else it is counted as sacrifice. That is to say something precious to you. When we offer to God something precious even though not convenient, it is sacrifice. For example the widow that gave her all to God leaving nothing to herself.
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. - Luke 21:1-4 NIV.
In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. - 2 Corinthian 8:2-5 NIV.
We have to equally be ready like the Macedonia church to offer to God from the depth of our heart. That is sacrifice that can prove acceptable to God, which is capable of taking us out of poverty to wealth and prosperity. A giver never lack.
