Serving God’s Purpose With a Cost

2 Samuel 24:10–25 | Romans 12:1–13

We all have a purpose in this world. Our time on earth is brief, but the question remains: Have I served God’s purpose in my generation? When we walk in His purpose, God walks with us.

Often when a theme is given, we read the passage but miss the background. In today’s text, David—chosen by God and familiar with His ways—made a mistake. During a season of war, David had grown used to victory because God was always with him. But instead of relying on God, he ordered a census, something God had forbidden. His commanders spent nine months and twenty days counting the people: 800,000 men in Israel and 500,000 in Judah.

The moment the census was completed, David’s conscience convicted him. He knelt before God in repentance and realized he had stopped trusting in God’s power the same God who helped him defeat lions, bears, and giants. How often do we do the same?
When we had little, we prayed faithfully. But when God blesses us with jobs, comfort, and property, we begin to forget Him. Some people appear humble when they have nothing, but when blessings come, their hearts change. If you want to know where someone’s heart truly is—give them money.

If we prayed much when we had nothing, we should pray even more now that we are blessed. This is part of serving God’s purpose at a cost. Our cost should reflect the sacrifice of Christ, whose image we bear. Outwardly I may wear a uniform, but the real question is: Does Christ still dwell in your heart?

No offering is greater than surrendering your life to Christ. David sinned many times, yet he remained “a man after God’s own heart” because he always repented. In many cultures, especially among men, repentance is difficult—we apologize silently but not with words. But repentance must be spoken, sincere, and humble.

When David sinned, God gave him three options for judgment:

1. Fall into the hands of his enemies
2. Endure seven years of famine
3. Receive three days of plague

David chose to fall into the hands of God because God is merciful, and he preferred God’s discipline over man’s cruelty. Never allow yourself to fall into the hands of enemies there is no mercy there.

God released a plague, and 70,000 people died. David cried out to God, pleading for mercy, saying, “These are innocent people. I am the one who sinned.” When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, God relented and said, “It is enough.”
This is what happens when we return to God with a broken and humble heart—He stops the destruction and restores us.

Serving God Requires Sacrifice

Romans 12 calls us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, refusing to conform to the world. To serve God, our sacrifices must align with His will. Samuel declared, “I will not offer a sacrifice that costs me nothing.” Many today only offer sacrifices of convenience—serving when it is easy, giving when it is comfortable.

Every person has a different cost. Do not compare yourself with others. Even if others do not attend district meetings, you go—because your cost is not their cost.

Even after doing all the church sacraments and procedures since childhood, there is still a cost—the cost of the cross. Jesus already paid our debt. Before we offer anything else, we must offer ourselves.

Listening to God’s Voice

When God lifts us, pride often follows. Ahab is a perfect example. He rejected God’s voice, preferred the voices that pleased him, and imprisoned the prophet Micaiah for telling the truth. Ahab believed he was wise and self-sufficient. But when a person exalts themselves above God, God hands them over to their enemies. In battle, Jehoshaphat cried out and was spared, but Ahab was struck by an arrow and died.

David, on the other hand, chose humility, repentance, and sacrifice—and God spared him.

Prayer

May the Lord hold back every judgment, every destruction planned against us as we humble ourselves in repentance, brokenness, and obedience. May we serve God’s purpose—whatever the cost.