Business professor Richard Quinn was disgusted. By careful analysis, he discovered that many of his students had cheated on their midterm exam. So he did what professors do best—he gave the students a lecture . . . on ethics. His message? Confess that you have cheated, and then the remainder of your classwork will determine your grade. You’ll also need to take a 4-hour course in ethics. There will be no permanent record of your cheating. More than 200 students admitted they had cheated.
God called for the people of Judah to come clean. He condemned them for cheating Him (Malachi 3:8-9). The people, having returned from exile in Babylon, were apathetic in their worship of God and unfaithful in their relationship with Him. So He made it plain that their sinning would result in some serious refining (Malachi 3:2).
The feeble tithes and offerings they were tossing God’s way reflected their hard hearts (Malachi 3:8-9). They knew that a tenth of the crops they cultivated were to be presented to God (Deuteronomy 12:6,11,17). But neither the quantity nor the quality of their tithes and offerings (material stuff like clothing, building materials, gold, silver, gems) was up to snuff. Instead of the cream of the crop, they were giving the bottom-of-the-barrel dregs.
You can almost hear the people of Judah respond out of self-pity, Yo, God, we’ve been through some tough times lately. Cut us some slack, huh? Perhaps you and I have responded the same way— allowing tough times to cause us to offer God second-rate worship and offerings.
God, in His grace, told His people that He would “open the windows of heaven” and richly bless them if they would “return” (repent and renew their true worship) to Him (Malachi 3:7,10). And He will do the same for you and me. No ethics class required.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Romans 8:1-18
More:
Read Galatians 6:7. Consider what you’re planting in your relationship with God and what the coming harvest might look like.
Next:
How have you been cheating God? What will you do to “return” to Him?
bearpair on November 21, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Amen, Tom! You & God have said all that needs to be said. Have a great time of ThanksGiving! Terry & Pat
tom felten on November 21, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Thanks Terry & Pat. Yes, we have so much to be thankful for. And our Great God is worthy of all our praise and thanks!
daisymarygoldr on November 22, 2011 at 12:43 am
First, teachers should stop being cheaters. Notice Malachi 1:6 is addressed to the Priests. “And what the priests do, the people also do.” (Hosea 4:9). It is disgusting when people and priest alike—sit down to play church and perform worship. Problem is in the heart of the matter.
Changed hearts will not cheat. In order to “return” the first action is to give ourselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8: 5). Feeble offering is a sign of feeble faith. Giving freely—naturally flows from a heart that overflows with love for God. We cannot give fully until our hearts are given fully to God.
To give anything less than the whole heart makes our worship a sham. If we are truly converted, we will think twice before offering left-over time, talent and treasure to the Lord. Also, we will no longer give in terms of giving to get something back from Him. We give because He first gave…
The church where I fellowshipped while attending school, followed the procedure given in 1 Corinthians 16:2. Every Sunday after observing the Lord’s Supper, only saved people are invited to worship the Lord with their money. Tithes or freewill offerings or any portion that was set aside during the week were dropped into a wooden chest with a slit on the top. The amount offered is known only to the one who gives it and to the Lord. This is the only collection the church takes and no other fundraising events or money-making activities are organized. The rich and the poor—all give as God has prospered us—according to our ability and means. It is a perfect example of people who despite their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality to help other churches in poorer countries.
Thanks Tom Felten for the powerful post!