Sacrificial giving begins with a better question than “How much do I have to give?” This sermon from Peachtree City Church of Christ traces two very different givers who shared the same heart. King David refused to offer God anything that cost him nothing. Likewise, a poor widow dropped two copper coins into the temple treasury and gave everything she had. Together, their stories show that God sees what an offering costs, not simply what it is worth.
A King Who Refused to Give for Free
In 2 Samuel 24, King David ordered a census that displeased God, and a deadly plague followed. However, the Lord stopped the destroying angel at the threshing floor of Araunah on Mount Moriah. Araunah offered David the land, the oxen, and the wood for free. Instead, 2 Samuel 24:24 records David’s reply: he would not offer the Lord sacrifices that cost him nothing. Later, Solomon built the temple on that same ground, where God’s mercy triumphed over judgment.
Two Coins That Heaven Heard
Luke 21:1-4 places Jesus in the temple’s court of women during the crowded Passover season. There, worshipers dropped gifts into trumpet-shaped offering boxes, and heavy coins rang against the brass. Meanwhile, a poor widow slipped in two copper coins, the smallest currency of her day. Nobody required an offering from her, and her coins barely made a sound. Nevertheless, Jesus said she gave more than the rich because she gave all she had to live on.
Giving Starts With Gratitude
Many Christians ask how much they must give, but that question often asks how little God will accept. Second Corinthians 9:7 urges each believer to give as he has decided in his heart. After all, God loves a cheerful giver. Therefore, gratitude, not guilt or recognition, makes a giver cheerful. Likewise, the widow could have kept one coin, yet she trusted God and gave both.
The Real Cost of a Gift
Believers can give God only what they will never miss. However, sacrificial giving asks a harder question: what does this gift actually cost? Of course, God does not ask Christians to empty their accounts and neglect their families. Instead, a true sacrifice might mean giving up some comfort, security, or personal desire to give more.
Giving Reveals Faith
Finally, every offering reveals something about the giver’s trust in God. The widow believed God could do more with her last two coins than she could. Moreover, Scripture shows God doing much with little, from five loaves to twelve ordinary apostles. Romans 8:32 reminds believers that God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all. Consequently, Christian giving responds to a God who gave Himself first.
Ultimately, sacrificial giving does not start with a number. Instead, it starts with remembering what God has already given. Before the next offering, believers can ask three honest questions. Does this gift reflect gratitude, a willingness to sacrifice, and trust in God?
Watch the full sermon above, and join Peachtree City Church of Christ for worship Sundays at 9:30 AM.
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