In 2 Samuel 24 it says that God stayed the plague that struck Israel, at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David then followed the advice of Gad the prophet to “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
Araunah was scared when he saw David coming to his place, but David explained his mission. Araunah responded by offering to help him: “Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up...and May the Lord your God accept you.” David replied, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
This is what I call an impact statement. We should always keep this in mind as we worship God or do something for Him - “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
Is that how you view your involvement in your church? Do you try to just get by when you do something for God? How do you feel when the offering is taken up in your church, especially if a special appeal has been made? Are you satisfied to let others sacrifice and pick up the tab, while you enjoy the ministry? Or are you like David who didn’t want to do anything for God if it didn’t cost him something?
It has been said, “you will get out of things what you put into them.” That happened to David, for it says in the closing verses of 2 Samuel that after David had made his offering, “Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.”
