Not Free of Charge

In speaking about the law of consecration Elder McConkie quoted an interesting scripture about David.  The prophet Gad told David, “Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.”  When David went to Araunah and offered to pay for what was needed for the sacrifice, Araunah offered to let him use whatever he needed free of charge.  David responded, “Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:18, 24).  Elder McConkie commented, “When it costs us but little to give, the treasure laid up in heaven is a small one. The widow’s mite, given in sacrifice, weighs more heavily in the eternal scales than the bulging granaries of the rich man.”  The Lord doesn’t want us to just give that which is “free of charge” but rather to offer to Him that which means something to us. 

                Sister Franco told a story from her childhood in the recent Christmas devotional that I think highlights this principle.  She told how she was asked by the Primary to find old toys to give to those in need, and as she was cleaning old dolls, her mom said to her, “You should also give one of your nice toys to the children.”  She related, “Then she said something that has remained with me all these years. She said, ‘Cris, it is really good to give something that we truly like, something that’s hard to give because we are fond of it, something that would be a sacrifice. That is what our Heavenly Father’s gift for us was. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ—not just any son. He sent His Beloved and perfect Son so we can go back to live with Him once.’”  Throughout the scriptures we see that the Lord is far more interested in what we are willing to sacrifice than how much we actually give.  As he put it to Oliver Granger, “his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord” (D&C 117:13).  The story of the widow’s mite is perhaps the best example of this: “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:41-44).  The Lord stated the same principle another way in the Doctrine and Covenants: “For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation” (D&C 82:3).  We’ve all been given different opportunities, talents, family situation, financial means, etc., and the Lord will judge us not just on what we give, but whether we truly consecrated and sacrificed to serve Him.  Perhaps the most succinct statement on the subject comes from the Prophet.  Joseph Smith said, “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation” (Lectures on Faith, p. 58.).  The Lord doesn’t care how much we have, He simply wants us to be able to give it all to Him.