The Sacrifice Factor

“No, I insist on buying it for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen” 2 Sam.24:24

Adam and Eve taught their sons Cain and Abel, that the altar is the meeting place with God. However, the altar cannot be left without a sacrifice. So when you build an altar, bring a sacrifice and put it on the altar. When God comes and consumes the sacrifice, He attends to you. At the appropriate time, both boys brought something before God. Abel brought a sacrifice, while Cain brought something that looked like a sacrifice. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s gifts. Why? It is because one was a sacrifice and the other was a gift. Cain was probably thinking, how much can I give this hungry God? Let me give Him some of my crops; that should do. God is not a beggar to any one. He has the power to accept and to reject; God reserves the right to reject an offering. One was a sacrifice; the other was a gift. One cost everything and the other cost nothing. Everyone that walks with God knows the power of the altar. David conducted a census that was considered evil in the sight of God and God began to attack the nation. God listed out punishments for David but David chose to fall into the hands of God. So God staged the judgment at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. And Araunah as an act of loyalty offered the threshing floor and oxen for sacrifice to David the king, for free. And David said something very profound. He said, “No, I insist on buying it for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing”. Please read 2 Samuel 24. Why would David insist on paying? I would not give to God that which costs me nothing! I will not give remnants, I will not give to God things that are of no value, things that mean nothing to me.

I have been in meetings where when it is time to give an offering, they say check your neighbor, if he doesn’t have an offering, put an offering into his hand. And because Christians are very kind people, they will do it. I appreciate their hearts and good intentions. But anyone that walks with God will not collect such an offering because it doesn’t cost you anything. David said, I wouldn’t give God what will not cost me anything. In other words, I will not offer to God what is convenient. I will give God only what is sacrificial. To get out of the house at whatever time and pray is not convenient. To get up at midnight and pray for people (I am not even praying for myself), is not convenient. It is a sacrifice. The Kingdom of God is borne on the back of sacrifice.

Prayer: Father, help me apply this wisdom to every sacrifice I bring to You henceforth, in Jesus Name.