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October 1 “Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.” However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by entreaty for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel. 2 Samuel 24:23-25. There had been a famine in the land, and seventy thousand men had died. David knew the cause—the sin of the people. Under direction from Gad, a prophet of the Lord, David knew he was to erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor. He is offered, at no cost, the materials and the oxen for the altar by Araunah. David refuses to accept the free offer. This should speak to us who may not understand what the Lord seeks from us. If we give to Him with no cost suffered, then He may not regard our offering as sincere. Yes, it is to cost us something. The widow, giving her mite, gave everything she had. And she was honored. Certainly the Lord honors us when we give until it hurts, for then He knows that we have placed Him first. In the case of David, God answered him by lifting the plague. What cost should we bare when we give to the Lord? It may involve our time, talents, or financial resources, but most of all He honors the gift that comes from our heart. We are to be cheerful givers who love God and marvel at His ways. Our giving is never to earn a blessing, for blessings are not earned. Instead the blessing will come because God chooses to show grace to His followers. Today Father, we give ourselves to You. Nothing we offer can compare to the cost of Your Son at the cross. So we praise and worship You and trust in Your grace and mercy. Amen. |
