April 5, 2024

Author: Pastor Dave Miner
April 05, 2024

Reading: 1 Chronicles 21                   
Optional Reading: 1 Chronicles 20, 22-24
“But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” [1 Chronicles 21:24 NIV]

There is an old story about a conversation between a $20 bill and a $1 bill about their adventures. The $20 bill tells the $1 bill, “I have been to Paris, France, to New York City, and all over the Midwest. I have been to carnivals, and seen great plays, and I even purchased a giant-screen television. You should see what I have seen.” The $1 bill responded, “I wish I were like you. For me, it is always the same. Go to church. Go to church. Go to church.”

The story makes a crucial point. Sometimes Christians find it easy to put a dollar in the offering plate. What is a dollar? What can you buy anymore for a dollar? We really do not give too much thought about giving a dollar. Besides there are so many other things I need to spend my dollars on. When King David, confronted with a comparable situation, knew what to do. He wanted to make a sacrifice to God. Araunah, a man of faith, offered to give him everything he needed. But David refused to take it for free. He would not sacrifice to God something that cost him nothing.

When you give to the work of God, it should cost you something, it should be a bit of a sacrifice. When we give like that, God is-pleased.

Lord, help me always give so that it costs me something. Amen.

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