“Is a sacrifice really a sacrifice if it costs you nothing?”
I can remember clearly when I started planning a life-changing event. I wanted it to be at the pinnacle of my children’s lives. I wanted it to be at a peak time of year. What is this life-changing event? Disney world. Anyone who has tried to plan a trip to Disney World knows how difficult this decision can be. First of all, I almost choked when I checked the prices. So, more than that, I wanted this to be the perfect time for my kids. I didn’t want them to be too young and not remember anything, but I didn’t want to miss the magical ages where the princesses and characters were still alive. With all of these decisions in mind, I decided to start saving about two years in advance for a trip to Disney for Christmas. I calculated how much money we needed to set aside to pay for our trip. I soon started sacrificing monthly to make this trip, which wouldn’t happen until about 24 months later.
I can assure you that I appreciated that trip. I mean everyone appreciates a good magical trip, but I knew how much sacrifices had to be made to allow my kids to enjoy a magical vacation. My kids had a lot of fun, but I enjoyed every moment of every experience with intense gratitude because I knew everything it took to get there. There is some great appreciation added when you have to sacrifice to achieve something.
In 2 Samuel 24, David sinned against God. David longed for forgiveness, and he did
He ordered the construction of an altar to the Lord. David went to Araunah’s threshing floor to buy land to offer the sacrifice.
“So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him, and when he saw Araunah the king
When his men came to him, he came and prostrated before the king with his face to the ground. “Why have you come, my lord the king?” Arouna asked. Then David said, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and build an altar there to the Lord, so that he may stop the plague.” “Take it, my lord, King, and use it as you wish.” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for burnt offerings, and you can use the threshing floor and the yoke of the oxen as wood to kindle a fire on the altar. I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice. And the king said to Araunah: No, but I will buy it, because I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God, which have cost me nothing. So David paid him fifty shekels of silver for the threshing floor and the herds.” 2 Samuel 24:19-24
David refused to offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing. What did my sacrifices for God and my faith in God cost me? Is a sacrifice really a sacrifice if it costs me nothing? Part of the shallowness of Christianity in America is that our faith has cost us nothing. We did not have to sacrifice for our faith, and therefore, we became satisfied with the sacrifice that Christ made for us. We see and hear about people all over the world whose faith seems much deeper and stronger. Usually, these people have sacrificed something for their faith.
Do I have any real sacrifices to make for my kingdom and my faith? Is spending time in the Word a true sacrifice or giving up some time on Sunday for worship? We must be willing to sacrifice more. We value our faith only to the level that we sacrifice for our faith. What am I willing to sacrifice?
This blog was written by Amy Carrico: author of the Make the Moments Matter blog
Last updated on June 12, 2024
