This is going to cost you.

2 Samuel 24:18–24 NKJV

18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David, according to the word of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded. 20 Now Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So Araunah went out and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. 21 Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.” 22 Now Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. 23 All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.” 24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Pray

Introduction

Background:

In 2 Samuel 24:18-24, the passage describes an event near the end of King David's reign, focusing on the consequences of his decision to take a census of Israel and Judah. God was displeased with David's census, as it was seen as an expression of pride and self-reliance, rather than trusting in God's provision. As a result, God sent a plague on the land. The angel of God, now dispatched and having killed 70,000 men, stands before the threshing floor

In verse 18, the prophet Gad, the king’s seer tells David to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David goes to Araunah and offers to buy the threshing floor to build the altar. Araunah offers to give David the land and the necessary animals for the sacrifice, but David insists on paying for it. In verse 24, David states that he will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord that cost him nothing, emphasizing the importance of sacrifice.

This passage highlights David's repentance and his recognition that true worship involves personal cost and devotion. It also sets the stage for the location where Solomon would later build the temple in Jerusalem.

Point 1: Defining Cost

The definition of Cost is the amount needed to buy, do, or produce something.

In my line of work, I often have to do managerial accounting or confer with accountants. In accounting, there are two generally accepted methods that are employed:

Accrual Based Method: Cash is recorded when it is generated, not when it is received—recording revenue before receiving the payment.

Cash Basis Method: Income is only counted when it is received

God is tired of Cash-Based Christianity… blessings are only recognized when they are seen and received.

The Bible tells us to do all things with Gratitude.. and the price has been rendered at Calvary, … this thing cannot be earned by you. It was paid for by God. Salvation is free, but it is not cheap.