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I will not...sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.


But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (I Chronicles 21:24)
 

         Many years ago as I was going through one of my cycles  of learning about health and diet, I was at a church function at which cookies were served. It was being a battle. I didn't want to sacrifice eating those yummy cookies.  The thought came to mind that I could sacrifice them with an attitude of sacrifice ("Oh, woe is me, I want those cookies but I can't have them. My heart is breaking!") or, I could sacrifice them with  a positive attitude ("God, I'm giving You those yummy-looking cookies. Use them to bless someone else, and bless me in making the sacrifice.") For  something to be a sacrifice, keeping it to your own enjoyment has to be a desirable thing. Had they been serving Brussels sprouts,  lima beans, or even Jell-O or coconut cream pie, it would have been no sacrifice at all to not eat them. The sacrifice would have been to eat them.
        I have also heard of celebrities calling press conferences to announce giving what seems like great sums to a charity. There was a group of singers who got together to since one song for charity. I remember a TV program in which a company provided a thousands of dollars of stuff to help make over a home. I am cynical about these "sacrifices." How much of a sacrifice is the amount given in comparison with that person's wealth? Are they effectively handing over "chump change?" Did the donation of an hour or two to sing cost them anything, really? How much would it have cost the company to buy 1 ad for the show in question? Instead of an ad, they bought the whole show at a fraction of the cost, and all three gained the PR benefits involved. Is there a real sacrifice involved?
         Since we live under the New Covenant, why bother to think about sacrifice? It is because at some point in your day; probably at more than one point in your day; you are going to be called upon to make a sacrifice. It might be small. It might be large. The choice will be yours. You can make a real sacrifice, one that costs you something, or you can pretend. You can whine about it, or you can decide to make it a blessing.

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