How can we apply David's example of costly worship in our lives today? David’s Defining Moment “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) • A plague had fallen on Israel as judgment for David’s census. • God pointed David to Araunah’s threshing floor as the place to build an altar. • Araunah offered the oxen, wood, and land for free, but David refused. • David’s heart: true worship must personally cost the worshiper. The Principle of Sacrifice • Scripture consistently links worship with tangible sacrifice. – “I urge you…to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1) – “Try presenting that to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?” (Malachi 1:8) • Costly worship affirms God’s worth; cheap worship reduces Him to convenience. • Sacrifice does not buy God’s favor but expresses wholehearted devotion. Why Costly Worship Matters • Demonstrates genuine love (“God so loved…the Only Begotten” – John 3:16). • Breaks idols of comfort, control, and self-preservation (Philippians 3:8). • Invites divine presence; the plague stopped when David sacrificed. • Leaves a legacy: the temple later stood on that purchased ground (2 Chronicles 3:1). Modern Expressions of Costly Worship • Financial generosity beyond the leftover (2 Corinthians 9:6–8). • Time surrendered to prayer, Scripture, and serving others despite busy schedules. • Public allegiance to Christ when culture pressures silence (Matthew 10:32). • Choosing holiness over popular compromise—refusing entertainment, deals, or relationships that grieve the Spirit (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Acts of extravagant honor like Mary’s perfume: “The house was filled with the fragrance” (John 12:3). • Forgiving enemies at personal emotional cost, mirroring Calvary (Ephesians 4:32). • Physical presence in gathered worship even when inconvenient or uncomfortable (Hebrews 10:25). Guarding Against Cheap Worship Today • Reject token giving that never affects lifestyle. • Refuse to outsource ministry; engage personally, not just by writing a check. • Watch for “leftover time” devotions squeezed into margins instead of firstfruits. • Resist spectator Christianity—participate, don’t merely observe. • Evaluate motives: pursue God’s glory, not applause or personal gain. Living the Lesson • Count the cost and gladly pay it, knowing Christ first paid everything for us (2 Corinthians 8:9). • Cultivate a heart that says with David, “I insist on paying the full price.” • Offer daily, tangible sacrifices that proclaim, “Worthy is the Lamb” (Revelation 5:12). |
    |