Psalms 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.
I can vividly remember growing up watching my mother every week, like clockwork, write a check for tithes. No matter what shape our family was in, or in my mind what we were doing without, she always wrote that check. I can remember seeing her pray sometimes before she filled the check in. But she did it.
I would actually get angry at times when she did that. I figured, ‘wouldn’t God understand if she used that money to buy me a new pair of pants, a pair of Converse or lunch money?” It was years later I told her about those times and how I felt. She told me, “son, first of all we owed that to God. Secondly, when we give to Him when it’s real hard to give, I simply believe He would bless us with more because He knew what we needed and when we needed it.”
I remember reading a story about the King of Prussia that reminded me of what my mother taught me. During his reign, King Frederick William III found himself in a bind. Wars had been costly, and in trying to build the nation, he was seriously short of finances.
After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia if they would bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. Each piece of jewelry he received, he would exchange for a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. These decorations would be inscribed, ‘I gave gold for iron, 18l3′.
The response was overwhelming! But more importantly, the women prized these gifts from the king even more highly than their former jewelry! The reason, of course, is clear. They were proof that they had sacrificed for their king.
When we come to know our King, we, too should want to exchange the flourishes of our former life for Him. The amazing thing about our King is that He not only takes our jewels but He takes our rags too — and uses them for the good of His Kingdom!
God will not only replace the sacrifice made by a heart of compassion, but will also give you a reminder of your sacrifice. Let’s pray and ask for His revelation. There are great things waiting for those who give.
Prayer. . . Dear Father, thank You for showing me through the wonderful lessons of my mother and others that You desire for me to freely make a sacrifice to You. Father, open my heart to Your Voice and show me that sacrifice is not painful, but a wonderful experience of compassion and joy when it’s done in You. I thank You Father for knowing. In Jesus name. Amen.
From My Heart To Your Heart,
Don
