Volume 13: God Never Charged People to Come to Him

God Never Charged People to Come to Him

One of the questions I am asked most often is why I refuse to charge for the Bible studies, devotionals, discipleship curriculum, and teaching materials God has allowed me to write.

The answer isn’t because I believe it is sinful for every Christian author, ministry, or publisher to sell biblical resources. Scripture teaches that those who labor in the gospel are worthy of support.

My answer is much simpler.

I want to remove every barrier I possibly can between people and God’s Word. That conviction has only grown stronger as I have been studying Leviticus.

Leviticus Reveals the Heart of God

Many people read Leviticus and see only sacrifices, ceremonies, and laws. But beneath every command is the heart of a holy God who desired to dwell among His people.

The repeated message of Leviticus is not merely that God is holy—it is that a holy God continually made a way for sinful people to draw near to Him. Over and over, we read, “The priest shall make an atonement for him… and it shall be forgiven him.”

Every sacrifice, every priestly act, every cleansing ritual, and every offering underscored the seriousness of God’s holiness.

Yet in that same holiness, we also discover God’s undying compassion.

If someone could not afford a lamb, God provided another way. They could bring two birds. If they could not afford birds, they could bring fine flour instead (Leviticus 5:7–11). Later, God repeated those same provisions for the cleansing of the poor (Leviticus 14:21–32).

God never lowered His standard of holiness. He simply refused to let poverty become a barrier for those who sincerely desired to come near.

The message of Leviticus was never, “Come back when you have enough.” It was, “Come the way I have provided.”

The Heart of God Has Never Changed

Centuries later, Jesus sent out His disciples with these words: “Freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

Everything we have received from God has been an undeserved gift—His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness, His salvation, His revelation, and the gift of His Holy Spirit.

Leviticus shows us God providing a way for sinful people to approach Him. The gospel reveals that Jesus Himself became that Way.

How could I freely receive so much from God and then make disciples only when someone can afford the price of admission? The revelation God has entrusted to me is NOT FOR SALE.

This Is My Conviction

People regularly encourage me to package the curriculum, place it behind a subscription, or build a paywall around the discipleship resources.

I understand why. Seminary required a significant investment. Studying, writing, editing, and maintaining these resources takes countless hours. Even hosting a website comes with ongoing expenses. Those suggestions are understandable and are almost always made with good intentions.

As someone passionately explained how everyone was making money from ministry, I found myself remembering Jesus’ temptation on the high mountain. The offer wasn’t the same, but the temptation felt familiar: “All this can be yours too.” My response never changed: “Freely I have received, and freely I give.”

Afterward, I returned to the heart of Leviticus. Just as God continually removed unnecessary barriers so people could draw near to Him, I want to spend my life removing as many barriers as I can for people to know Him through His Word.

If someone can support the ministry, I am deeply grateful. If they cannot, I never want money to determine whether they will be discipled.

The Great Commission was never, “Go therefore and sell curriculum.” It remains: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

Freely Give

Perhaps the greatest investment we will ever make is one that never appears on a balance sheet.

It is opening God’s Word with someone. It is discipling a new believer. It is teaching a child, a teenager, or a young adult. It is encouraging a struggling saint. It is giving away what heaven freely gave to us.

From Leviticus to the cross, the story has always been the same: a holy God making a way for people to come near. May we never place barriers where God has spent all of redemptive history making a way.