Have you ever paused to ask yourself—what does God actually deserve from me?
Not just in words. Not in songs we sing on a Sunday. But in the quiet, unseen places of our lives.
There is a question tucked into Scripture that every believer must eventually answer:
“What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” — Psalm 116:12
It’s not a casual question.
It’s deeply personal.
And it demands more than a routine response.
God has been undeniably good even when we fail to recognize it.
He has preserved you, sustained you, forgiven you, and carried you through seasons you didn’t think you would survive. Yet the question remains—how do we respond to that kind of goodness?
Not with empty words.
Not with habitual worship.
But with something intentional… personal… and yes—costly.
Like David, refuse to offer cheap worship. In 2 Samuel 24:18–25, after a grave mistake brought judgment upon Israel, David was instructed to build an altar to the Lord.
Araunah, in a generous gesture, offered David everything he needed—free of charge. The land, the oxen, the wood—everything.
But David said something profound:
“Nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.”
David understood something many of us overlook:
God is not honored by convenience.
True worship is not about what is easy to give—it is about what means something to you.
- It may cost your comfort
- It may cost your pride
- It may cost your time, your plans, or your resources
But that cost is what gives your offering weight in the spirit.
And something remarkable happened—
when David offered a sacrifice that cost him something, the plague was stopped.
There is a spiritual principle here that cannot be ignored:
If it costs you nothing, it carries little weight.
God is not moved by leftovers.
He is moved by intentional surrender.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” — Psalm 51:17
This is not about striving or performance—it is about posture.
A heart that says:
“Lord, You are worthy of more than what is easy for me to give.”
Pause for a moment and consider:
- Has my worship become convenient?
- Have I been giving God what is easy instead of what is meaningful?
Because at the heart of it, worship is not measured by how often we show up, but by how deeply we surrender.
Shalom! Rev. Ron
Virtuous Living 