How does 1 Chronicles 21:24 illustrate the principle of sacrificial giving? Scripture Spotlight “But King David replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what is yours or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ ” (1 Chronicles 21:24) Context Snapshot • David’s unauthorized census provoked God’s judgment (1 Chronicles 21:1–17). • The plague stopped at Araunah’s threshing floor, where God commanded David to raise an altar (vv. 18–19). • Araunah offered the site and animals free of charge (v. 23). • David’s refusal to accept the gift underscores a timeless principle: true worship requires personal cost. Key Observations • Personal Expense: David would not delegate the cost of atonement; he bore it himself. • Heart over Convenience: Worship that “costs nothing” is hollow; sacrifice demonstrates sincerity. • Ownership Matters: What David offers must be wholly his, underscoring integrity in giving. • Immediate Obedience: David pays “the full price” at once, showing eagerness, not reluctance. Scripture Echoes • 2 Samuel 24:24 – Parallel account confirms the event’s historicity. • Mark 12:41-44 – The widow’s two coins illustrate giving “all she had,” not leftovers. • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – “God loves a cheerful giver,” linking attitude and sacrifice. • Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits…”—offering the best, not the excess. • Romans 12:1 – Presenting our bodies “as a living sacrifice” is the baseline of worship. Principle of Sacrificial Giving • Sacrifice measures worship, not dollar amount but cost to the giver. • Giving flows from gratitude for God’s mercy; David responds to halted judgment. • Ownership plus surrender equals worship—what is mine, I lay down. • Costly giving prefigures Christ’s ultimate sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2). Living It Out • Evaluate: Does my giving alter my lifestyle, or is it disposable income? • Prioritize: Offer firstfruits, not leftovers. • Personal: Avoid outsourcing generosity; engage personally in meeting needs. • Joyful: Like David, give willingly, not under compulsion. Takeaway Truth 1 Chronicles 21:24 teaches that genuine worship is costly. When we give what truly belongs to us—at personal expense—we mirror God’s own sacrificial love and honor Him with integrity and wholehearted devotion. |
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