In the prophecy of Malachi, we find that God was not pleased with His people. The Lord had been put on the national "back burner." God preferred the honesty of no worship at all to this hypocritical show of paying lip-service to honoring God. Worship had degenerated into nothing but form. There was no powerful, dynamic relationship between the holy God of Abraham and the children of Israel. They had allowed both their sacrifices to God and their attitudes toward God to become "blemished." They weren’t giving, nor did they care about giving their best.
The church of God today must also be careful to offer acceptable worship to God. We have a tendency in our day to do what pleases ourselves, rather than what pleases God.
Stewardship is a part of worship. Giving to God anything less than our very best means we dishonor Him when we worship. The most evident expression and demonstration of that worship is a matter of what we do with those talents and material possessions with which God has entrusted his children. God is the owner, we are but managers of what He owns. Giving is that recognition; God owns everything, and we worship Him.
Today we want to examine the offering plate to see what is typically given to God. First we see:
The Polluted Offering
Malachi 1: 6 - 13 6A son honors his father, and servants their master. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. You say, “How have we despised your name?” 7By offering polluted food on my altar. And you say, “How have we polluted it?” By thinking that the LORD’S table may be despised. 8When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Try presenting that to your governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9And now implore the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. The fault is yours. Will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. 10Oh, that someone among you would shut the temple£ doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands. 11For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. 12But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and the food for it may be despised. 13“What a weariness this is,” you say, and you sniff at me, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. (NRSVA)
Giving our best to the Lord honors Him. God told His people from the beginning they were to bring only the best (Lev 22.20 -- "But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.") God’s reason for laying that down as the pattern is that it helped each person worship more effectively.
A wild animal cost nothing but the time to capture it, but the best lamb of a man’s flock was costly. King David (2Sa 24.24) refused to offer anything that wasn’t the best. Do you do that? Do you give God the best you have?
Around our household, the standard designation for anything less than our best is, "Missionary tea bags." Years ago we learned that some affluent (but cheapskate) people would save their used tea bags to "send them to the missionaries." It is not your best for the Lord that way.
There are grave consequences for "playing at church" when it comes to God’s offering. Notice v.8, the prophet tells them to try to offer those same kinds of blemished animals as payment of legal debts and tax levies.
Malachi was like the Don Rickles of the prophets. Rickles made a show business career out of insulting his audience. Malachi’s message was, "Try paying your income tax with the kind of trash you’re passing off as worship for the King of Glory. If the governor won’t accept it, what makes you think it won’t tick God off?" Whatever you give, make certain it isn’t polluted -- it should be your best, not your leftovers; don’t bring your "missionary tea bags."
The Partial Offering
Malachi 2:7 - 13 7For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction. 10Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors? 11Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob anyone who does this—any to witness£ or answer, or to bring an offering to the LORD of hosts. 13And this you do as well: You cover the LORD’S altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand. (NRSVA)
In the New Testament church of the 21st century, the priests are virtually all believers. However, there is a responsibility parallel with church leadership. Preachers, teachers, committees, officers of the church – these are the ones who were breaching the covenant God had with His people. Preachers and teachers who will not deliver all the truth of God’s Word – those who will deliberately mislead others for personal gain – are guilty of breaking covenant faith with God.
God doesn’t want a partial offering from anyone. Breaking the covenant with a partial offering is serious business. The most public of this offense is the televangelist who twists and misconstrues the Word of God in order to entice people to send him money.
The televangelists don’t have a corner on that market -- they’re just more visible than those in the local church. Some people, with only a carnal interest in controlling others, worm their way into a position of leadership in the local church. They have no intention of being cooperative, helpful -- only in control of money and programs.
There are also grave consequences for this activity; verse 12 indicates God will “cut them off”. There comes a time when everyone needs God. However, people who have given up genuine, heart-felt, submission in worship, in order to have control, will one day need God, but He will turn a deaf ear. Just when you need Him most He will not hear or answer, no matter how many tears, prayers and certificates of deposit you lay on the altar. To be “cut off” from God is to be separated from Him; that is the description of Hell.
Give God your best now. Relinquish control. Make it an all-on-the-altar day today!
The Pilfered Offering
Malachi 3:6 - 9 6For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. 7Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, “How shall we return?” 8Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! 9You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! (NRSVA)
Whether we speak of Malachi’s day (B.C. 400), or Franklinville in 2008, the tithe still belongs to the Lord, it is a holy -- untouchable thing (Le 27.30). This passage teaches us that the tithe:
A. Belongs to God. When we speak of giving our tithes and offerings a “tithe” refers to the 10% of your income over which there is no debate -- it is God’s.
B. Belongs In God’s House. The first day of the week is the day of worship. Paul instructed the early church to regularly give their tithes into the church treasury.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him... 1 Corinthians 16:2a (KJV)
That pattern has not been altered. 20th century Christians are supposed to bring their tithe to worship every week.
There are serious consequences for withholding that tithe. First, in Leviticus 27.31 it tells us that if for any reason you must withhold a tithe, (sickness, vacation, a new boat?), you must eventually give it anyway, and you must add 20% to the total.
Second, you run the risk of angering God. He has called the church the "apple of His eye," protected and loved.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. Zechariah 2:8 (KJV)
When those who are a part of the body of Christ withhold their tithes from their church, they are attempting to destroy what God loves. Beloved – that never works; God is just too big; you don’t want part of THAT fight! As previously mentioned, everyone will need God someday. In the day you need Him, how in the world will you be able to pray as did the Psalmist (40.11) "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD..." when we withhold the honor due Almighty God – His tithe, His holy tithe?
So far all the examination has been the negative side…what is NOT to be put in the offering…now let’s see:
The Proper Offering
Malachi 3:10 10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. (NRSVA)
In Leviticus the pattern for genuine worship was laid down (Lev 22). It has not changed in the kind of whole-hearted devotion it demands from us as we approach holy God.
1. Birth the sacrifice
A man was required to take a lamb from his own flock -- a personal sacrifice. Today we must bring our own personal lives before God.
2. Bring the sacrifice
A man was to present the lamb at the altar of the temple and lay his hands on it, confessing his sin. The symbolism was one of transferring the sin of a man to the lamb. Today we must confess our sins; the Lamb died for us.
3. Butcher the sacrifice
The man himself killed the lamb as a symbol of deep repentance over his own sin, and willingness to turn from it. Today our repentance is to turn away from the old life, and walk with Christ in newness.
4. Bow with the sacrifice
Once the sacrifice was completed, the man could bow in humble worship, cleansed, acceptable before God. There are great rewards promised to the person who will birth, bring, butcher and bow before God with his tithe and offering -- blessings beyond imagination, and protection by the hand of God Himself.
What About the Economy?
I want to remind you of something Jesus said, be on guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.
I also want to promise you this: when the election is over, the sun will rise in the East. On inauguration day in January it will be cold. And if the Lord wills, your heart will still be beating. Presidential elections and the state of the economy are not reasons to fear…that is from the pit of Hell and the smell of smoke is all around it! God’s people are not slaves to money – they are servants of the Most High!
Beloved, your joy, and God’s honor are not determined by the circumstances of life – that’s Wall Street and Hollywood thinking. Your joy is in a person, Jesus Christ. He is also the honor and glory of Heaven. You worship God and honor Jesus Christ in all you do…the economy will always be in God’s hands.
But here is what is in our hands; the choice is open to each of us. We can fear, hoard and watch over our little pots of gold…or we can honor God’s name – worship Him, by paying our tithes and giving our offerings…even in this economic mess.
Did you bring your sacrifice today?
