Everything costs something. There must be a price. Sometimes it involves money. Often, it doesn’t.

When David approached Araunah to buy his threshing floor (which is the site Solomon would later build the temple and is now a holy site for three major religions), Araunah wanted to give it to him. He saw it as an honor and act of respect for the king.

The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 20 ounces of silver. (2 Samuel 24:24)

Anything worthy of offering to God costs us something. It has great worth. Anything we do that we think doesn’t involve God also has a price and costs us something.

There must be a price. It’s why Jesus died. Sin costs. Grace costs. Life costs.

Maybe we don’t want to acknowledge the price, and maybe we don’t want to pay it, but faith (and the lack of it) costs us. Faith is worth the sacrifice.