If it doesn't cost you, It's not Worship

There’s a truth many believers don’t hear often enough:

If serving God has never cost you anything, you’re not truly serving Him yet.

Real service costs something.

Real devotion comes with sacrifice.

Real worship always asks for an offering.

And I was reminded of this so strongly while reading my children’s devotional this week, in 2 Samuel 24:18–25.

In that passage, David is told to build an altar to the Lord. Araunah offers to give David everything he needs: the land, the oxen, and the wood for free. But David refuses. His words shook me:

“I will not offer to the Lord my God that which costs me nothing.”

(2 Samuel 24:24)

Imagine that!!!!

A king refused a free gift because he wanted his offering to God to be accompanied by a sacrifice.

He wanted to feel it.

He wanted it to cost him.

And that verse met me exactly where I was.

When Everything Else Is Balanced… Except MY Service to God. Guys, I repent!!!!!

Over the last few weeks, months, even. I’ve juggled balancing everything except my service to God.

 Balancing work

Balancing my business

Balancing the children

 Balancing my home, my time, my energy

I create schedules.

I plan.

I rearrange my life like a puzzle.

But do you know the one thing that keeps falling behind?

Church!!!!!!

My service to God.

The assignments He gave me, the ones meant to bless others.

I started thinking:

“Maybe I should stop taking photographs during Sunday Service, I don't have time to edit.”

“Maybe I should stop posting on church social media, creating flyers, it's time-consuming.”

“Maybe I should stop doing this or that for the kingdom.”

“Maybe then I’ll have more time for my domestic life.”

I genuinely believed cutting down on serving God would make life easier.

But then…

2 Samuel 24 happened.

And it reset everything.

If It Costs You Nothing, It’s Not an Offering

God used David’s choice to speak directly to my heart:

Service to God will cost you something 

time, energy, money, comfort, convenience.

Because that cost is what makes it worship.

David paid for the threshing floor.

He bought the oxen.

He gave what he could have received for free.

And when it cost him something, Scripture says:

“…the Lord answered his prayer on behalf of the land.”

(2 Samuel 24:25)

God responded to the sacrifice.

Maybe You’ve Been Praying… But Not Sacrificing

If you’ve been praying:

 “God, answer me.”

“God, remember me.”

“God, show me what to do.”

“God, intervene in this situation.”

If you’ve been asking and asking but still waiting…

Here is your cue.

Give God something that costs you.

Not leftovers.

Not what is convenient.

Not what is free.

Give Him something that stretches you.

Give Him something that interrupts your comfort.

Give Him something that shows Him He is worth the sacrifice.

Then watch Him respond.

Have a beautiful Wednesday.

And may your service rise to God as an offering that moves His heart.