How To Make Your Offerings To God Acceptable

2 Sam. 24:23-24 - "Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you." 24 However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing."  NASU 
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• A Lesson From King David 

King David goes to a man named Araunah and wants to buy his threshing floor. Araunah says David can take whatever he wants from him and offer it to God.
 
King David will not accept this gracious gift from Araunah. King David says, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing."
 
There my friends is one very valuable lesson.
 
If you are going to give God a sacrifice then it must come from you, your wallet, your purse, or your possessions. David wasn't going to offer a sacrifice to God which cost him nothing. 

• My Own Introspection 

Barb and I were worshiping when this scripture was used in the sermon. It really started me thinking and doing some introspection. Have I ever offered to God a sacrifice that cost me nothing?
 
I really hope that I have not, but just in case I prayed and asked God to forgive me in case it was true.  I don't ever want to be guilty of offering God a sacrifice that didn't cost me anything. 

• Giving To God 

If you want to make your sacrifices to God always be acceptable then my advice is follow the formula given to us by King David, don't give anything to God that doesn't cost you something.
 
It is not the amount you give but is it yours to give? The story of the poor widow who gave two small copper coins is filled with valuable lessons, but the one lesson we can see is she gave what she owned, the coins were hers to give.
 
Mark 12:42-44 - A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;  44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."
 
When you give an offering to the Lord make sure it is yours and the offering comes from your heart and it will be acceptable.
 
Think On This:
 
For it is in giving that we receive. - Saint Francis of Assisi

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago