DECEMBER 2005
Dear Mt. Olive family and friends,
When the man’s voice
on the radio stated that a single Bible verse had radically changed his life, I
immediately turned up the volume. I was
eager to hear more.
This one, specific Bible passage didn’t bring him to
faith; he had been a long-time Christian.
It didn’t clear up some thorny theological quandary; he was firmly
grounded in the Lord.
What this sole verse had done for him was more practical
in nature. It turned a formerly
sensitive, touchy, problematic issue into a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
As the speaker disclosed his former dilemma, he was most
definitely describing me. He told of how
he often had to fight with himself to give freely and generously to the many
appeals for money he received from worthwhile ministries (even though he was
giving 10% of his income to his local church.)
And the single verse that opened up his heart to joyful
and liberal giving: “I will not sacrifice
to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing,” (II Samuel 24:24).
These words, spoken by King David, were in response to a
man named Araunah who offered to give to David, free of charge, a piece of
property on which to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to the Lord. He was even willing to provide David with his
ox yokes for firewood, and his own oxen for the offering - again, free of
charge.
But King David declined the offer – though it was
extremely generous. He refused because “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God
burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
David then purchased the land and oxen from Araunah and sacrificed to
the Lord God. Later his son, Solomon,
built the temple on this very site.
I am confident that you, as faithful and committed
Christians, want to generously support the work of your congregation, your
synod, and a multitude of Christian agencies.
But I also suspect that your sinful flesh tries to hold you back and rob
you of the joy of giving. I know from
personal experience!
Something else I know.
If I replay in my mind the events of II Samuel 24, and remember the
words “I will not sacrifice to the Lord
my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing,” giving once again becomes an
act of joyous delight! My Lord has
freely given me everything I need for soul and body; how dare I even think of
keeping most of it for myself!
Many congregations in our church body are facing serious
financial shortfalls. As a result,
offerings to the synod are down dramatically, resulting in a host of closed
missions and discontinued ministries.
I’m certain that this is not because all of us are giving as much as we
can. (Some of you are, and I am in
grateful awe of your faith!) For most,
however, it is because our hearts have become calloused and our love has grown
cold. Another verse from the inspired
pen of David needs to become our daily prayer: “Restore to me the joy of Your
salvation and grant me a willing spirit…” (Psalm 51:12).
Soon we will be gazing into the beautiful brown eyes of
No! I will not – I cannot - give to the Lord my God that
which cost me nothing!
Carl R. Henkel, Pastor