Spirit of Sacrifice by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1874

Spirit of Sacrifice.

By Stephen N. Haskell

“Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” These were the words of David under peculiar circumstances. He had committed a grievous sin before the Lord, and Israel was involved in it. Consequently a terrible pestilence was upon Israel. “And there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” The angel of the Lord had stretched out his hand with a drawn sword over Jerusalem, the city of David. He was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David saw the angel that smote the people, and he greatly humbled himself and repented of his wrong, and said, “Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.”

The prophet Gad came that day to David and said: “Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” It was now an important time; for if God accepted the sacrifice, the plague would be stayed. If the right motive did not actuate him in making the offering, and if he did not meet the mind of the Spirit of God, then he had no reason to hope but that further trouble awaited him. Immediately, he repaired to the threshing-floor, and made known to the owner of it the object of his visit, namely, to buy the floor to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague might be stayed from the people. “And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him; behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king.”

David objected to this. He refused to make an offering to God of that which did not cost him anything. “Nay,” says David, “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.” Here was a principle involved that God accepted, and not only was the plague stayed in the land of Israel when the offering was made, but a few years subsequent to this, God honored this spot by selecting it for Solomon to build the most splendid temple that was ever erected upon this earth. A sacrifice that costs nothing is not acceptable before God. And labor and sacrifice count in Heaven not so much for the amount performed as for the sacrifice it requires in the performance of it.

The widow in the gospel had, doubtless, long desired to do something in the cause of God. The amount she could do was so small that she evidently felt it was beneath the notice of God or man. But her heart was full. She wanted to do something. She had only two mites. Her next meal was to be purchased with this small pittance, for it was all her living, even all that she had. With a thankful heart that she had even that much which she could give, she approached the treasury and cast it in. With a cheerful heart, she goes from the place, perhaps nevermore to think of her offering. It seems to have been a time of general collection, for the rich men were there, and they cast in much into the treasury. Angels were there to record what was done. The Saviour was there and beheld the whole transaction. He called the disciples’ attention to it, and said, “Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God; but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

Thus in the day of Judgment when the books are opened, the amount set down to the account of the poor widow will appear larger than all that was done by the rich on that occasion. The burdened soul, full of anguish to do something in the cause of God, is regarded by him, and a broken and contrite spirit brings into the heart rays of light and joy. “To this man will I look,” says God, “even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” “He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” It was with “weariness and painfulness” that Paul labored in the cause of Christ.

God requires the heart’s supreme affection. If that is not given, God does not accept the labor, or the sacrifice we make. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” When the Jews entered into the promised land, they were to bring for a thank-offering a wave sheaf of the first-fruits. This was before they had put in the sickle to gather in the grain. Then when they had harvested their grain, the first loaf of bread made from the first threshed and ground corn was given to the Lord as an acknowledgment of his goodness to them. See Lev. 23. In all the temporal blessings that they received, God was acknowledged as the giver by them, when they gave to him a thank-offering of the first-fruits of the best they received.

But when the Jews backslid from God, how great a change came over them in this respect. It was self first, and God afterward. They would do for the Lord if it cost them nothing. They brought to the Lord the refuse, the blind, the lame, and that which they could spare as well as not. This was showing contempt to the Lord’s ordinances and despising his name. It was not treating God with that respect they would show to their governors. They would not even shut the doors of the temple nor kindle a fire upon the altar without pay. This state of things is clearly described in the following words: “A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master; if then I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us; this hath been by your means; will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.” Mal. 1: 6–10.

“Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.” Mal. 1: 13, 14.

They had lost sight of the special providence of God and the sacredness of his work. To sacrifice was a burden to them. They had no relish for it. Religion had become to them a round of ceremonies without life and power. The burden of God’s cause did not rest upon them. And because of this, the labor of their hands was blasted. They had labored hard and brought in little. They failed in procuring what they wished to eat. They clothed themselves, but were not warm. They would at times earn much money, but it was like putting it in a bag with holes. It did not seem to spend well. When they looked for much, lo, it came to little. The Lord said all this was because he did blow upon it, and the reason why he blew upon it was because every man ran to his own house, or made his own interests first, and left the work of the Lord as a secondary matter. See Haggai 1: 5–11; 2: 16–18.

But if they would return to the Lord and seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, he promised from that day to bless them. Hag. 2: 19. Our temporal blessings are oftentimes spoken of as being in proportion to our honoring the Lord with our substance. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Prov. 3: 9, 10. Promises are numerous touching this point, and when the heart is fully imbued with the Spirit of God, so that it is drawn out for others to the extent that our ease, comfort, means, and all, are laid upon God’s altar, the Lord will bless the effort made.

This is the missionary’s fort. It is where he will receive power from on high. It is here where sacrifices are made that cost something, that God will meet men and give a spirit that will reach hearts. It is when self is laid at the foot of the cross. It is when selfishness is rooted out of our hearts that Christ will come in, and not before. Publicans and harlots bid as fair to reign in glory as do those that daily mingle with their judgment-bound fellow-men, with hearts as unfeeling as a stone for their spiritual welfare. Missionaries are wanted who regard this cause as of more value than their farms or their merchandise. If men and women can go to heathen lands to toil and suffer every deprivation for the cause of Christ, and when there send their children to this country to be educated among friends, nevermore to see them in this world, how must Heaven look upon those who will let a worldly influence detain them from entering the work of Christ?

“This life to toil is given, And he improves it best Who seeks by patient labor To enter into rest.”

We want missionaries possessing the spirit of Christ, who will be true to God’s cause in every emergency, at whatever cost. We want men and women who will labor unselfishly in their neighborhoods, and in the community where they live, and who will not let the sinner go until he gives his heart to God. They should have hearts that are tender, that will feel for the sinner, and that will not wait until urged and urged to bear responsibilities, but who will be drawn out for the afflicted, and will sympathize with them. This spirit has not wholly left the earth. It exists in the heart of every true child of God. It is when sacrifices that cost something are called for that the heart is tested. It may be to renounce friends that are near and dear for the truth’s sake. A right eye or a right hand may cause us to offend; if so, we had better enter into life maimed than having two eyes or two hands to be cast into hell. But however costly the sacrifice, it cannot be compared with the sacrifice made for us; and our appreciation of that sacrifice is shown by the sacrifice we make for Christ. If it is full and complete, God accepts it; and it is consumed in his precious cause. S. N. HASKELL.