Jump Start # 373

Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robed Thee?’ In tithes and offerings.

  Malachi is not only the last of the Old Testament books, it is the last word of God until the coming of Jesus, nearly 400 years later. The nation of Judah had settled back into their home land. This took place after having been exiled in Babylon for seventy years. The temple was rebuilt. The walls around the city were completed. Things were settling down. But in all of this, the hearts of the people had not been fully restored. Malachi was yet another voice sent from God to encourage, remind and warn the people.

  Our verse reminds us that the people were content in not giving God all that they should. The first chapter reveals that they were offering sick, blind and diseased animals to God for sacrifice. They were not giving the best, but the worst. They were offering what no one else wanted. Multiple times throughout this book God admonishes the nation only to receive a denial back. God would say something and then the people would say something opposite. “Yet you say,” is found in 2:17; 3:7, 8, 13.

  Two great lessons come from this.

  First, it is easy to not see ourselves as God sees us. This same situation is found in Revelation. The church at Sardis had a reputation as being alive. God said they were dead. The Laodiceans said that they didn’t need anything. God revealed that they were poor, blind and naked. How is it that some can be so far off with how God sees them? Is it that we have lived so long among sin that it no longer bothers us? Could it be that we feel everyone messes up, so what I’ve done is no big deal? Sin is wrong. Sin breaks the heart of God. We need to see ourselves as God sees us. That view will humble us. It may shock us. Above all, it will amaze us that God still loves us and has anything to do with us.

  Secondly, God deserves our best. He always gives us His best. The best of Heaven was sent for us. The best of His blessings. The best attention. God is good to us. How have we treated Him? Have we let our minds wander too much during church services? Been distracted too easily by the babies? Watch too much TV…spent more time doing what I wanted than what He wanted. Those words sting, because I know they are true. I’m looking at myself. Too few prayers. Too much complaining. Too little dedication. Too little holiness. His heart is so pure and ours can be so polluted. He is so focused and we are all over the map. It’s amazing that God has anything to do with us, with me. I can understand the frustration that Malachi must have felt. It is easy to see it in others, harder to see in self.

  Robbing God. What a bold declaration. I’ve known couples that drifted apart from each other and the complaint was that they didn’t spend enough time with each other. That happens. I’ve known people to give up hobbies because they no longer had the time for them. My golf clubs and I are barely on talking terms this season. It showed the last time I played. We know this stuff. Relationships take time. Friendships drift apart if we don’t do things with each other. Same for marriages, relationships with kids, family members, and WITH GOD.

  God wants you. God wants you to spend time with Him. God wants you to want Him. He doesn’t want you going to church because of a guilt trip that someone gave you. He wants you there because you want to be there. He wants you praying because you want to talk with Him. He wants you to want Him.

  The problem in Malachi’s day wasn’t stinky sacrifices. It was hearts that really didn’t want God. That always makes a terrible worshipper. The words of Malachi are quit robbing God. It changes when I start realizing how great God is, especially to me personally. God wants your best. God wants to dwell in your heart.  You will find the relationship soaring when all this comes about. Passion, commitment, dedication, devotion are easy when you desire to give God your best.

  Now a fair question to ask, “did you give God you best this past Sunday?” Having thought about this, what would you have changed? Now, get about that!

 God is so good!

Roger