Worship – What is it Costing You?

But the king replied 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.’ 2 SAMUEL 24:24 (NIV)

Key points:

This verse comes toward the end of a conversation between King David and a landowner named Araunah.

David wants to buy Araunah’s threshing floor to build an altar (you can read the chapter for context). Araunah kindly offers to give him the land and oxen for the sacrifice for free – but David refuses. As we’ve read, he doesn’t want to offer a sacrifice that costs him nothing.

True worship often comes at a cost.

There are times when our worship won’t cost us anything – in fact, we are often blessed as we worship, even though it’s not about us. Yet sometimes – particularly in western Christianity – we get so used to receiving blessing that we forget we’re called to be a blessing too.

True worship (the Romans 12:1–2 living-sacrifice kind of worship) often comes at a cost. We need to be prepared not only to receive but also to pour out in response to what Christ has done for us. This cost can take many forms. As in David’s story, it can be financial. Often, worship costs us our time. It can also cost our pride, our sense of security, our preferences, our comforts, and even – to an extent – our dignity.

Listen to this episode of Real Hope in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

When was the last time your worship cost you something? Is God asking you to bless someone at your expense? After all, Jesus’ ultimate act of worship cost Him everything – His very life – so that we could receive grace freely.

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Devotion written by Chris Gresham-Britt

Originally published as Worship – What is it Costing You?

Feature image: CanvaPro