Green Pastures
Weekly Devotional

Cheap Sacrifices

 

The book of II Samuel recounts a story in which the prophet Gad approached David and told him to offer a sacrifice to God. He was to do it in a specific place, the threshing floor of a man named Araunah. Araunah offered to give the site to David, rather than David buying it, “But the kingreplied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them”. II Samuel 24:24

 

The title of this column is really oxymoronic; if something is cheap it is no sacrifice.

The dictionary uses this definition: “an act of offering to a deity of something precious.”

 

We see the example of ultimate sacrifice in two Bible stories. One is the story of Abraham, who was willing, if God so required, to give up something precious – something he had waited years for - his only son, Isaac. About to set the knife to the heart of his son, God stopped Abraham and substituted a ram. Isaac’s life was spared. “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son…” Hebrews 11:17

 

That story was the foreshadowing of a New Testament event. Jesus, the only Son of God,

willingly gave everything He had - His life as a sacrifice. “…..Christ loved us and gave

himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

 

Makes me think about how I give to God.

 

For many Christians it is easy to dig into the pocket and put their tithes into the offering plate on Sunday morning. It is easy for us to be persuaded by an emotional appeal to give to some missionary endeavour. But when was the last time we really sacrificed – given away something that was precious as an offering to God? Do I give only out of my abundance, or also out of my poverty?

 

Jesus told a story about a widow who gave out of her poverty. “a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” (Matthew 12:42, 43) That’s sacrificial giving.

 

When I have given so much that I have little left for self, when I have given the most precious thing I have, then I have sacrificed. Jesus gave His all, can I do less?

 

“ I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” ( 2 Samuel 24:24)

 

B. Klassen                    beatrice.klassen@outlook.com