How Do You Treat God?
Malachi 2:17 ? 3:12
In this study on Malachi 2:17-3:12, we will see the ways spiritually apathetic people mistreat God with their sinful attitudes and actions. They weary Him by accusing Him of being unjust, they turn away from Him and refuse to admit they have backslidden, and they rob Him by withholding what is rightfully His. Even though the book of Malachi was written to Jews in the Old Testament, it has a lesson for Christians today. Christians should not be shocked when the unbelieving world fails to give God the honor and reverence He deserves if we ourselves do not honor God today.
The people in Malachi 2:17-3:5 showed their contempt for God by not being faithful in obeying the messenger He sent. They were either being unjust, or were unable or lacked concern to perceive the difference between the just and the wicked.
The people were not fair toward one another during the time of Malachi. Nehemiah 5:1-5 shows that the people had to sell everything they had to pay the taxes and their debts to one another. They even sold their children into slavery so they could eat. Their fields and vineyards belonged to others. This caused the people to doubt God’s justice.
Malachi 3:6-7 explains that God does not change, but His people had turned away from Him. The Lord promised that if they returned to Him, He would return to them. Note that God had not moved; the people had moved away from Him.
Since God does not change, we can know what He expects of us in the way we treat one another. Since God does not change, we know that His love for us will remain constant. When we repent of our sins, He will forgive our sins. Verse 7 asks the questions, “Who can endure?-?and Who can stand -??” The answer is those who repent and turn back to God.
Malachi 3:8-12 points to the question, “Do You Rob God?” The Lord pointed out that the people were robbing Him by withholding their tithes and offerings from Him. The “tithe” was a 10th of one’s income given back to God and the “offering” was a gift above the tithe. The people were not giving them to the Lord and the Lord accused them of robbing Him. Verse 10 shows that God will bless His people if they will repent and bring their tithes and offerings into the storehouse.
When God’s people give, they receive abundant spiritual blessing.
Dinkins– Lessons in the BSL series for the summer quarter are being written by David Dinkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Kingstree, and former director of missions.