CHINTZY WITH GOD
II Samuel 24:18, 22-23a, 24
"And Gad came that day to David and said to him, 'Go up, erect and altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite' .... Now Araunah said to David, 'Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems to good to him. Look, here are the oxen for burnt sacrifices and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.' .... Then the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which costs me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Araunah had a good heart, but David knew that he needed to make a personal sacrifice to the LORD. He would not give to the LORD something that did not cost him anything. The temptation is always there to get chintzy with God – looking for the good deal, the easy way out, giving the least I that can, doing the minimum to still be a Christian. Jesus did not give us that option. He said I must sacrifice all to follow Him. "Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33). He calls for whole-hearted devotion. I cannot cut corners and offer just enough of myself to get by and expect His blessing. Lord, help me to have a liberal heart.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Serving God requires sacrifice.
[end]
Have a sacrifical day. Love you.
II Samuel 24:18, 22-23a, 24
"And Gad came that day to David and said to him, 'Go up, erect and altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite' .... Now Araunah said to David, 'Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems to good to him. Look, here are the oxen for burnt sacrifices and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.' .... Then the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which costs me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Araunah had a good heart, but David knew that he needed to make a personal sacrifice to the LORD. He would not give to the LORD something that did not cost him anything. The temptation is always there to get chintzy with God – looking for the good deal, the easy way out, giving the least I that can, doing the minimum to still be a Christian. Jesus did not give us that option. He said I must sacrifice all to follow Him. "Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33). He calls for whole-hearted devotion. I cannot cut corners and offer just enough of myself to get by and expect His blessing. Lord, help me to have a liberal heart.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Serving God requires sacrifice.
[end]
Have a sacrifical day. Love you.
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