But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24
After David had sinned against God by taking a census of the people, God had sent a plague on the people killing many. When it was stopped, David chose to offer a sacrifice to God. The place God had the angel stop the plague was over the threshing floor of a man named Araunah. David wanted to buy that place to offer his sacrifice. Araunah was not going to charge David anything, but David insisted on paying for it. He did not want to offer God anything that did not cost him anything.
God no longer requires or expects sacrifices of animals to be done, but He does desire a sacrifice of a person’s heart and time. He wants people to want to give completely of themselves, their time, and their abilities to His work. When a person gives of these things, it can be a sacrifice.
However, often, in a church, a person does not really sacrifice to God his time, heart or abilities. It is common for people to give of their excess to God. Or when they do not have anything to do, they decide to do something for God.
Sacrificing to God means that it will cost you something. It may hurt a little to a lot to give what is being given. In life, you are most likely very busy taking care of yourself, family, work, others, and the list goes on. To sacrifice to God, is to put all of those things aside for a moment and do something for God.
This sacrifice can be taking extra time to worship Him, rather than watch a game on tv. Or it may be praying longer for someone else instead of playing a game. It can be giving some extra offering for a need, rather than eat out at the restaurant.
Giving of a sacrifice must be a sacrifice to you. It must cost you something, otherwise it is not really a sacrifice.
How much are you giving to God?
Is it just your excess?
Or is it a sacrifice to God?
I pray today that you will trust God in your giving to Him; that God will show you what you need to give and how much to give; that you will not fear giving God too much; and that you will sacrifice your heart to God.
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