February 7, 2010
Dr.
Ron Sumners
A MATTER OF THE COST
1 Chronicles 21:22-27
This year, 2010 is a National Census
year. From that census all sorts of valuable information will be gained. The
census becomes a guide to business as it projects goods and services for the
future, government agencies, educational institutions, religious denominations;
all of them benefit from the census.
The background of the story in our
scripture, telling of David’s purchase of a site to build an altar, was a
census. David took a census of
In Exodus 30:11-16, God commanded that a
census be taken. From that information a tax was imposed to support the
David’s census was taken to find out how
many fighting men there might be at his disposal. As his army grew, so did his
own estimation of himself and so did his dreams of conquest. The census was for
David’s glory, not for God’s. So, the census was a challenge to God, Himself.
David did not anticipate such strong
reaction to his plan. Joab, the military commander, advised against the census.
The people saw it as a violation of their freedom and of their covenant with
God.
It was God that made David king, a
position where the temptation to love power would arise. The victories in war
that David had experienced through God’s blessing were a further factor in the
temptation.
When God creates a man free and places
him in a position of responsibility and privilege, there is a sense in which
man is tempted. This is not so the man may sin but that he may learn to humbly
depend upon God’s grace.
This is where all of us are, in places
of privilege and responsibility. In such places we are not protected by power
and wealth, but by trust in the Lord. And when we forget the Lord, we lose His
blessing.
An epidemic broke out as a result of
David’s sin. Our sins do affect others. The most terrible demonstrations of
that is war. War is the greatest social illness of modern times. So often it is
ignited by some sin on the part of a privileged person; a Fidel Castro, Maumar Kaddafi
or Sadam Hussein or Osama Ben Laden. David
recognized his guilt and asked for forgiveness. Here the greatness of the man
comes into full view. He could admit the error of his way. He could confess his
sin and move on. He never allowed his sin to become a permanent ball and chain.
He accepted God’s forgiveness.
David’s acceptance of his sin brought
him to Ornan’s threshing floor.
A threshing floor was a flat area of
rock or pounded earth in a place exposed to the wind. At harvest time the
stalks of grain were laid out on the floor and then beaten with a flail or
tramped upon by animals, until the ripe grain was freed from the stalk. The
grain was then tossed into the air for the wind to blow the chaff away.
The importance of this site is made
clear later. It was the ground upon which the
When Ornan learned that David wanted
this place to build an altar, he was prepared to give it to the king, along
with the animals and the fuel for the sacrifice. He was ready to do anything he
could to stop the epidemic. He urged the gift upon David.
David’s response once more illustrates a
grand quality in his character. He said, “I will not offer to the Lord my God
sacrifices that cost me nothing.”
There is no finer statement on
stewardship in all scripture. David would not express his gratitude to God for
relief from the epidemic at another man’s expense. He did not propose to let
someone else carry the burden of sacrifice while we went through the motions.
I pray to God that we develop more
Christians with this attitude!
There are names on church rolls all
across this country, including this church, of people who have never acquired
such an attitude. They are perfectly willing for someone else to carry the
financial load of proclaiming the Gospel. They are always ready to receive the
church’s ministry provided someone else pays the bill.
Offerings to the Lord are important, not
only because of what they do for God, but because of what they do for us. In
sacrifice we recognize anew that all we have and are belongs to God. In the act
of giving we dedicate our possessions and ourselves to God.
The epidemic wasn’t ended by David’s
prayer but by the Lord’s mercy. That is the prior element, otherwise we
conceive of prayer as some kind of magic.
This is a good time to examine our own
giving!
Sacrifice calls for you and I to get
personally involved. David said what we must say, “I will not offer the Lord my
God, and sacrifices that cost me nothing.” When was the last time you offered
God something that really cost you in terms of time, talent or finances? When
did you last sacrifice a personal pleasure or indulgence to give to the Lord?
When did you last go out of your way and risk getting involved with ministry to
others?
One of the most meaningful things we did
when I was at
Refugees from tyranny continue to offer
us an opportunity for compassion. Could we adopt a family? If we wanted to!
The North American Mission Board has
families who are cleared and waiting for someone to sponsor them. Here is a
sacrifice which costs something and is acceptable to God. This is the kind of
evangelism that characterized Jesus’ ministry. He not only preached to people,
He helped them.
Many of you have traveled overseas. You
know that world hunger is a major issue. Our International Mission Board is
doing everything funds will allow to be done to help. Every cent given to world
hunger goes for that purpose. Nothing is taken out for administration. These
funds are distributed by your Baptist representatives so they provide relief
and an opportunity for witness.
Our efforts not only provide good food
in emergency situations, but better seed and fertilizer so farmers can grow
more grain. Better farming methods and population control programs are an
important part of these efforts.
What Americans spend for liquor and the
grain used to produce it would feed every hungry person in the world, so we
don’t need to say that it is an impossible job. Can we do anything? Here are
several ideas.
1. Skip a meal a week and give the cost
of that meal to world hunger.
2. Give up soft drinks and snacks for a
week and give the cost to world hunger.
3. Put your pocket change in a container
every day and give that amount to world hunger.
4. Have a meatless day of the week and
give what you would have spent on that meat to world hunger. An eight dollar
roast would mean enough rice to feed a family for a week.
We can help! Sacrifices that cost us
something are pleasing to the Lord. It isn’t what sacrifice does for the Lord;
it is what it does for us that counts.
Bread for me is a material question, but
bread for my brother is a spiritual issue.
The matter of sacrifice raises a very
probing question for us. Is it possible for affluent people to sacrifice? You
may not think of yourself as affluent, but compared to the world, all of us
present today are affluent!
Most give out of surplus. It very seldom
affects our lifestyle. Our giving does not stop us from purchasing $50,000
automobiles or building a new house, not because we need it but simply because
we are financially able to do it, or take a vacation that costs more than a
year’s wages in most of the world! None of these are bad things. I’m not
condemning them. I’m simply asking, “Do we know how to sacrifice?”
It is said that a biographer determines
the real values of his subject by examining the check stubs of that person. We
give our money to the things that are important to us. If you don’t give at all
or you give out of your surplus, you can claim your love for God and the church
all the day long, but your check stubs will speak the truth about what you
really worship.
Affluent Christians must develop a
simpler lifestyle in order to give a sacrifice that costs them something.
Chrysostom, the great preacher said,
“God has invested capital with you. It is not your property but a loan by Him,
made to give you opportunity to exercise mercy on those who are in need.”
Affluent Christians need to take a new look at the Biblical principle of
sacrifice.
At every level of our society a hunger
for acquiring things reigns. We are not only ruled by our possessions, but we
have a single-minded drive to get more. There is no wrong in admiring what we
have. There is no wrong in ambition, if we temper these attitudes with love and
come to understand our blessings as God’s way of enabling us to share.
Jesus said that the area of our
possessions is most dangerous for a Christian. “You cannot serve God and
Mammon.” (Matt.6:24) Poverty is painful, but wealth is dangerous. Where greed
rules, there is no gratitude. Where things are first, God is second at best!
Where pride dwells, forgiveness has no place.
What value is there in sacrifice?
David discovered that it opened his
heart to the mercies of God.
It shows our love for God.
It is visible evidence of our love for
others.
It creates the spiritual atmosphere for
God to make possible abundant life.
Sacrifice helps us to discover one of
the best kept secrets of Scripture: It is more blessed to give than to
receive!
What about you? When did you last give
an offering to God that cost you anything?