SCRIPTURE:
“On that day Gad went to David and said to him, ‘Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.’ So, David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’ ‘To buy your threshing floor,’ David answered, ‘so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.’ Araunah said to David, ‘Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king.’ Araunah also said to him, ‘May the LORD your God accept 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.’
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.”
2 Samuel 24:18-25
OBSERVATION:
In following God’s commandment to go and build an altar, David forewent receiving the threshing floor from Araunah for free, and instead insisted on paying for it. David knew in his heart that although he could have gotten the threshing floor for free, it would please God if he had invested something of worth as a gesture of his honoring God. It was an opportunity for David to example to God how much he held the Lord in esteem and love the Lord God; in that he wanted his offering to come from a heart of sacrifice rather than convenience.
APPLICATION:
My DNA growing up in a family that did not have much; and yes, a background of frugality, as well as my subsequent business and corporate mentality of strategy, return on investment, and business acumen; would normally look for the deal, or negotiate the least cost for the most gain. However, David’s insistence on paying for what he could have gotten for free is a great reminder to me of the place in life God has called me to. Although we are called to be good stewards of God’s resources, it is more about our heart in how we value God and our investment in His ministry and work, including how we make our ministry and efforts a part of our daily surrender and sacrifice to Him. It’s less about profit and return on investment, and more about what is taking place in our hearts, which will then direct our decisions, actions, and faith.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, may I lead, pastor, and shepherd with my heart first, before business acumen, strategy, or return on investment. Instead, may my process of leadership be seeking your first, than following through with the wisdom and guidance you will impart to me through the Holy Spirit, which will often include principles of business, but only second to your will, your way, and for your purpose.
