SelfPreservation is an aspect of Idolatry.
Truly, truly, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. - Joh 12:24
Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. - Luk 17:33
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. - Rom 12:1
When we consider the above passages we get a sense of God's perspective on Sacrifice and SelfPreservation.
Now, obviously there is no need for another sacrifical lamb to be offered for Sin or acceptance.
So, what then is the take away from these verses?
What does God in His unceasing desire for our Glory expect of us?
Certainly not forced slavery.
Why does a person make wrong decisions? There is an element of Ignorance at work.
It may be Ignorance of all the initial investment.
It may be Ignorance of stipulations.
It may be ignorance of certain costs.
It may be Ignorance of the magnitude and inplications of the decision.
But only in rare cases does a person does decide to do something that opposes their self interests.
So, we come back to the truth of the following statement:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: - Hos 4:6a
How many times do you here this excuse for a child's poor decisions and bad behaviour: "He didn't know any better".
Well, there is a lot of truth to that excuse. Lack of knowledge or Ignorance is the foundation for bad decisions and failure.
So, what does this argument have to do with Sacrifice and SelfPreservation? Everything!
Since God Loves us He would never ask us to do anything that would hurt us. He has instructed us in the above verses to Sacrifice ourselves.
The only reason that we would not follow His instruction is if we do not believe that such action is in our best interest. Such a belief is an aspect of Ignorance.
We don't fully grasp the Power and Glory of the Law of SeedTime and Harvest.
To the extent which we do, we Sow ourselves into the KingdomOfGod.