2 Samuel 24:18-25 – Giving to God What Costs Nothing
When David says: ‘I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing’, those are his final words in the whole book. They’re words that are important for us all to think about. Because it’s scarily possible to have an outward profession of religion, which doesn’t actually cost us anything – a one-hour a week type Christianity. And in fact, if that one hour of worship clashes with something else the person wants to do – or other people want them to do – worship is often what gets dropped. But what we see both from this verse and elsewhere in the Bible, is that no worship at all would be better than worship that costs us nothing. Not to worship God is sinful – but to offer him the dregs and leftovers of our life is even more offensive to him. I know that for many of you, to follow Jesus does come and has come at a cost. For some of you, even to physically make it out to worship on a Sunday comes at a cost. In fact, if you can look at some of the tangible ways in which your Christianity IS costing you, then you have reason to be encouraged that the same Holy Spirit who was at work in David is also at work in you. And you can be encouraged that the cost is worth it.
Question
- What are some ways in which service to God has cost you?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would give to God even when it costs.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.