The Cost of True Worship
Refusal to Offer That Which Cost Us Nothing
In 2 Samuel 24:24, we encounter one of the clearest examples of the importance of sacrifice in worship. After David had sinned by numbering the people, God sent a plague upon Israel, and to stop the plague, David was instructed to build an altar and offer sacrifices. Araunah, the Jebusite, offered his threshing floor and oxen to David freely. Yet David, the man after God’s own heart, refused to accept it as a gift, stating, "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing." David’s understanding of the nature of worship speaks to the essential truth that our offerings to God must be more than just superficial actions. They must reflect the cost and value we place on God.
The Heart of Sacrifice in Worship
David’s statement reflects a timeless principle for God’s people. Worship, in its truest form, involves sacrifice. If what we offer to God costs us nothing, it does not truly reflect the spirit of devotion that God requires. As we see in Romans 12:1, Paul exhorts believers to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." This verse does not speak of giving God mere leftovers of our lives or half-hearted gestures. Rather, it speaks of giving ourselves wholly to God, as a sacrifice that is both complete and costly. In David’s refusal to offer what cost him nothing, we see the essence of true worship—offering the best of what we have, even when it involves personal cost.
The Value of Worship Reflects the Value of God
David's choice reflected his deep reverence for God. He understood that what we offer to God is a reflection of how we value Him. If our worship is devoid of effort, time, or cost, we diminish the value we place on the One to whom we offer it. This principle is further echoed in Malachi 1:8, where God rebukes the Israelites for offering blind, lame, and sick animals in sacrifice. God asks them pointedly, "Is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?" The Israelites had begun to offer sacrifices that cost them nothing, and in doing so, they showed how little they valued God’s majesty. In David’s day, and in our own, worship that does not cost us is not true worship at all.
Sacrifice: A Principle of Discipleship
The lesson from David’s example extends beyond worship. Sacrifice is at the heart of discipleship itself. Jesus said in Luke 14:27, "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." The cross represents self-denial, sacrifice, and a willingness to give up all for Christ. Following Christ involves more than an easy or convenient life; it requires bearing the burdens that come with obedience and sacrifice.
Just as David refused to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing, the Lord expects His followers to give sacrificially of their time, their energy, and their lives. It is easy to serve God when it requires little effort, but true discipleship asks for more. It asks for commitment, even when it is difficult, and a willingness to give of oneself completely, just as the apostle Paul declared in Philippians 3:8, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."
What Are We Offering Today?
In examining David’s example, we must ask ourselves: What am I offering to God today? Is it something that costs me nothing? Do I offer only what is convenient or easy? Whether in worship, service, or discipleship, the same principle applies. God deserves our best, not what is left over. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul reminds us, "God loveth a cheerful giver." This applies not only to monetary giving but to all aspects of our lives. We must give willingly, joyfully, and sacrificially, knowing that what we offer to God should reflect His great worth.
The widow in Luke 21:1-4 exemplifies this spirit. Though she gave only two mites, Jesus commended her because she gave "all the living that she had." Her offering was not measured by its monetary value, but by the cost to her. David, like the widow, understood that true offerings to God come from a heart that is willing to give all.
Conclusion
David’s refusal to offer what cost him nothing is a powerful reminder for Christians today. Our relationship with God should not be marked by convenience but by sacrifice. Worship, discipleship, and service all require us to give of ourselves, not merely in ways that are easy or comfortable, but in ways that reflect our deep love and reverence for God. As followers of Christ, let us learn from David’s example and ensure that what we offer to God—whether in our worship, our time, or our lives—costs us something. In doing so, we honor God with the value He deserves, offering our lives as "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God," which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
Hi, thanks for the article, I appreciate the overall idea!
Also, I am glad that you have translated Romans 12:1 as "your reasonable service", because many translations have the word "worship" there instead of the actual word there that means "service", and translating it as worship takes away from the meaning of the passage. I very much appreciate that, and I hope the readers will too! (Based on the O.T. usage of "latria" you could almost interpret is as "priestly service", but service is fine!)
I'm not disagreeing with your message, but just offering my thoughts. If I were to just take out the word and idea of 'worship' (because to me that means Sunday morning, 10 AM, church building), and understand the message as what does it mean to be a living sacrifice, (whether in serving or being a disciple, as you said) it opens up my mind to my daily life.
I know this is weird to say (as someone who was raised to believe that we go to church to worship God), but honestly we can define 'worship' as whatever we want to (pretty much), because there's no Greek or Hebrew word for it, and the words that really mean 'bow down', and 'serve' are most often translated as worship. I can't count the number of times someone has said that they know what the true definition of 'worship' is. It's crazy to me!
But sacrifice is sacrifice. Praise is praise. Prayer is prayer. Serving is serving.
There's no need to translate some of these words or 'classify' them as 'worship'... perhaps we could let them be what they are? That way, my effort and how I measure myself as God's servant isn't focused on:
Sunday morning: 1 hour: Church building
the focus is on my LIFE, not a location.
"there is coming an hour when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you bow down to the Father...those who truly bow down, will bow down to the Father in spirit and in truth." John 4:21,23