"Take it, Your Majesty," Araunah said, "and offer the LORD whatever you wish. Here are these oxen to burn as an offering on the altar; here are their yokes and the threshing boards to use as fuel." Araunah gave it all to the king and said to him, "May the LORD your God accept your offering."

But the king answered, "No, I will pay you for it. I will not offer to the LORD my God sacrifices that have cost me nothing." And he bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver. Then he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The LORD answered his prayer, and the epidemic in Israel was stopped.

2 Samuel 24:22-25

By definition, a sacrifice has a cost. So when you give to the LORD, give generously.

Sacrifice is the true measure of our giving.

Our Daily Bread - March 29, 2003