David’s Altar Lesson Resonates

A recent article in the Osprey Observer argues that Christian followers are still called to make sacrifices, though the form differs from biblical animal offerings. The piece centers on a specific interaction between King David and a landowner, using it to critique modern habits of comfortable giving.

The author recounts the biblical account where King David sought a location to build an altar to ask Jehovah for forgiveness. The owner of the plot offered the land, wood, and oxen to the king for free. David rejected the gift, stating he would buy the property for the full price. He reasoned that he would not take what belonged to the owner for the Lord or offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing.

The writer uses this exchange to pose a question about the nature of sacrifice in current times. The argument is that if a good deed costs a person nothing, it holds little value. The author suggests that many believers avoid tasks that are time consuming, difficult, or energy draining because they cost too much.

The article illustrates this point with a personal anecdote. The author agreed to sit with a friend’s 91 year old mother for an afternoon while the friend worked. The author suffers from chronic nighttime insomnia and requires afternoon naps to function. Skipping the nap would likely cause a migraine and irritability. The author describes this reluctance as a sacrifice trying to crawl off the altar.

Despite the difficulty, the author went through with the visit. The afternoon provided fellowship with the friend’s mother, whom the author describes as sweet and perky. The experience challenged the author’s preconceived parameters for what constitutes a sacrifice.

The piece concludes by referencing Hebrews 13:16. The verse states that God is pleased with such sacrifices and encourages believers not to neglect doing good and sharing. The author asserts that God is pleased when believers do not allow their living sacrifices to become too easy.