II Samuel 24 tells when the nation of Israel was experiencing divine judgment for having been disobedient to God. There was a plague sweeping the land. God, in His mercy, cut short the punishment. King David, out of thanksgiving and gratitude, wanted to offer a sacrifice to God. He approached a farmer named Araunah and wanted to purchase his barn and an oxen so he could build an altar and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. The farmer, awed by the presence of the King, offered his barn and his oxen free of charge, but David insisted on paying. Listen to his words in verse 24, “I’ll not make an offering to the Lord, my God, which costs me nothing.” Jesus, David, and the word of God teach us that if we give what we will not miss, we have not really given. It’s the sacrifices and the gifts that cost us something that change us and bring us life. When Jesus treasures you, He treasures you sacrificially. His love for you and me is costly. He gave it all on the cross for your life. If I am truly a follower of Christ, it means I have to live out the cross of Jesus Christ in my relationships, economically and personally. It is always the sacrifices made that mean the most to us. Remember, God always blesses sacrificial loving, giving, and serving.
– Dr. Tim Thompson