ROBBING GOD, ROBBING OURSELVES

Introduction

-{Malachi 3}

--There is an old joke about an old dollar bill and an even older $20 bill that arrive at a Federal Reserve Bank on the same day to be retired and taken out of circulation.

"I've had a pretty good life," the $20 said. "I've been to Hawaii, the finest restaurants in New York, and even on a Caribbean cruise."

"Wow, you did have an exciting life!" the dollar says.

"Where have you been?" the $20 bill asks the $1 bill.

"Oh, I've been to the Methodist church, the Baptist church, spent some time with the Lutherans..."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," the $20 bill interrupted. "Hold on! What's a church?"’

-That joke is about as old as the problem that it humorously portrays. It touches upon the fact that the church of God does not give back to the God of the church a portion that He has so graciously blessed His people with. The church of God (meaning the people who make up the church) think that they earned their money so it’s theirs to do with whatever they want, not considering that all of it came from God. So, technically God has a claim over all of it, but He directs His people to give a portion to the ministry of His people.

-When the people of God stop giving to the work of God, the work of God can no longer function properly. But the biggest problem isn’t just the lack of resources for the ministry of God, but it’s the disobedience that it displays, as well as the missed opportunities of blessings that come with it.

-Now, the second I started talking about money, many people’s defenses went up. The preacher’s going to talk about money—that’s all that preachers care about is money. But if you look at what the Bible says about how someone uses their resources (including money) it says a lot about their spiritual maturity or lack thereof. It says a lot about their level of faith that God can provide. Jesus Himself gave us the proper perspective when He said:

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

-What you do with your money shows where your heart is—are your investments heavenly or earthly? And here in Malachi, God gave it a different perspective—when you don’t invest in God’s work you are robbing Him. But what we also see is that when you’re robbing God, you’re robbing yourself. You’re robbing yourself of blessing, you’re robbing yourself of close communion with God, you’re robbing yourself of a full spiritual life, you’re robbing yourself of a chance to grow.

-I’m not here to lay a guilt trip or purposely make you mad. I am here to fulfill what our vision is as a church—to disciple you, to give you a biblical worldview about this topic, so that we fulfill our mission of GROWING AND LIVING FOR CHRIST…TOGETHER. I want you to have a biblical perspective to see how when you rob God, you’re actually robbing yourself. So, let’s see what God has to say about this...

Malachi 3:6–12 NET 2nd ed.

6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. 7 From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’ 8 Can a person rob God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and contributions! 9 You are bound for judgment because you are robbing me—this whole nation is guilty. 10 “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out blessing for you until there is no room for it all. 11 Then I will stop the plague from ruining your crops, and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “All nations will call you blessed, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

-{pray}

-God is writing to a people that have become indifferent to Him, and a symptom of their indifference comes in the area of their giving to God’s ministries. There are three lessons in the passage, and I first want you to see that the lack of giving to God’s ministries is:

1) A symptom of a deeper problem (vv. 6-8)

-The book of Malachi is structured around several disputes that God has with the Jews. God is using this format to point out their areas of disobedience and bad attitudes so that they would repent and prepare themselves for the coming of their Messiah, who would come roughly 400 years later. We might could say that by studying this book we are preparing for Messiah’s second coming.

-Here in Malachi, God consistently tells His people that they are disobedient, and He’s really charging them with being apostate—falling away from faith. They accused God of not being a God of love. They showed Him disinterested worship. Their ministers didn’t give the people God’s Word. They were faithless to the covenant. They accused God of being unjust. God rebukes them. God prods them. God calls them to repentance, but there is something that God does not do—He does not abandon them. And He tells them:

Malachi 3:6 NET 2nd ed.

6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.

-God is angry with them, but God will not go back on His promises. God will not wipe them out, no matter how much they might deserve it, because God always keeps His Word. The Jews were the chosen vessel to usher in the Messiah. And we, the church, are now the people of God in an everlasting covenant with God through the Messiah. God will not break covenant promise. But that doesn’t mean that God won’t discipline His children for their disobedience.

-And so God tells them in v. 7 that they are just like their fathers, they are just like their ancestors who were driven into captivity for their disobedience and apostasy. Their ancestors didn’t follow God’s commands, and neither do they. So, God tells them what they need to do is return to God in repentance. When they do that, then He will return to them with revival. But they still don’t think they’ve done anything wrong. They ask: WHAT DO YOU MEAN RETURN TO YOU? WE NEVER LEFT YOU? They didn’t think they needed to repent of anything, so they ask Him how should they return since they don’t think they’ve broken His commandments. So, God gives them an example of their disobedience and apostasy: YOU ROB ME WHEN YOU WITHHOLD YOUR TITHES AND CONTRIBUTIONS/OFFERINGS.

-But God’s point is that this robbing Him of the tithes and offerings is just another symptom of an even deeper issue. Your disobedience in this one issue shows you don’t hold God’s Word in high value, that you are not walking in close communion with God, that you are worldly and fleshly and not walking in the Spirit. You are spiritually immature and your lack of giving to God’s ministries as He commands is but the symptom.

-If I am suffering from a fever, the fever isn’t the issue. A fever is a symptom of a deeper issue (that I have a virus, that I have strep throat, or an infection, or something along those lines). If I want to deal with the fever, I have to deal with the root cause of the fever.

-With your money, it is a matter of how you are stewarding your money and resources—how you administrate the money and resources God has given you. How you steward your money and resources demonstrates if you have faith in God, if you believe His Word, and shows where your heart is. If you are withholding the tithes and offerings to God for His ministry, that particular disobedience is but a symptom of a deeper spiritual issue.

-Now, having said that, I don’t want us to make the mistake that if you do tithe and give offerings that you’ve reached the pinnacle of holiness. I can take ibuprofen to lessen the fever, but the root issue is still there. Yes, you are obedient in that one are of life, but how’s your overall spiritual health going?

-God says that they need to return to Him. They are disobedient in many different ways, even more so than what He deals with in this message from Malachi. But God names their lack of tithes and offerings to His ministry as one of the symptoms of their overall spiritual sickness. And so, if we are failing in this one area, we not only need to check ourselves in this area, but truly take a look at our overall health and maturity. But another lesson that God points out in this passage is that when we do fail in this area of tithes and offerings, there is:

2) A fallout for a larger group (vv. 9, 12)

-In v. 9 God reemphasizes that they are robbing Him by not bringing in the tithes and offerings. And He says that because of this area of disobedience, they are bound for judgment (NET), other translations might say they are under a curse or cursed with a curse. God is saying this to His own people. This is not a judgment of destruction because God just told them that He does not change, He does not go back on His promises, and because of that they are not destroyed. So, what God talks about we might rather say it is from the standpoint of discipline. God will discipline His people in their disobedience. Discipline is ultimately for the good of God’s people because it brings them to return in repentance toward God.

-But here in v. 9, God is laying it at the feet of the nation, even though the whole nation was not being disobedient in this particular area (although the vast majority were). There were some Jews who very faithful to God and followed His commands, including tithing of their firstfruits and bringing the sacrifices and offerings out of a heart of love for God. And yet, those who were obedient were still swept up in the curse and judgment of God. You see, the disobedience of those not fulfilling God’s commands brought about a fallout, brought about repercussions for those around them, even those who were obedient.

-Just like other sins that we commit, our sins do not only affect us, but there is a fallout that affects those around us as well. My pride affects those around me. My anger affects my family. My {fill in the blank with whatever sin} affects everybody else around me. The sin of robbing God of tithes and offerings is the same.

-Think of it this way. Your disobedience to God’s Word is like throwing a large rock into a lake. The ripples of water continue on and touch all those things in the surrounding area.

-When we disobey God’s word, it not only hurts us, but through us it hurts those around us. And when it comes to tithes and offerings, you’re not only robbing yourself, but the entire church reaps the consequence of your sin. If you disobey in this area, the whole church suffers for it. And when I refer to the church, I’m not talking about me as the pastor, or the staff, I am talking about all the people that call Harvest Baptist Church home. If you are disobedient in this area, you are hurting all the people around you. Take a look around you—these are the people suffering the fallout of your disobedience.

-Maybe the church isn’t able to do what it needs to do or wants to do in the ministry because you are not giving your tithes and offerings. Maybe more could be done for missions if you would obey in this area? Did you ever think that maybe God will not come in power and glory upon this church because of the disobedience of the people.

-I know that we might be a little jaded because of all the scheisters on TV or radio asking for more money so that they in turn can get bigger and better stuff. Look, I don’t need a jet. I don’t need a mansion. What I desire is a church that is growing and maturing in Jesus Christ—but I can’t help you in that area if you’re not obedient to the Word of God.

-And v. 7 made me think of something related to this. God told the people RETURN TO ME, which is another way of saying repent—RETURN TO ME IN REPENTANCE. And what does God say will happen—I WILL RETURN TO YOU, meaning God will come in power and glory and revival. Now, think about this—did you ever stop to think that your disobedience to God, whether in this area or other areas, is what might be holding back revival in the church? I mean, what if God was holding back the next Great Awakening because He was waiting for Harvest Baptist Church to return to Him in repentance in this area as well as others?

-Now, that’s the negative side of the fallout—what happens when you’re disobedient in tithes and offerings. But v. 12 gives us the flip side, the positive side of the fallout for obedience. He told the nation of Israel that if they walked in obedience in giving the tithes and offerings then all of the other nations would call them blessed and the delightful land.

-So, think of this. If everyone in the church was obedient to God, including in the area of tithes and offerings, God would bless the church and those who are outside the church would take notice that God is up to something here. If we would be obedient people, God would give us grace in the eyes of those outside of the church, and they would take notice that this is a group where God meets with His people. But we need to return and repent first.

-But I know what some of you are thinking, because there was a period of time that I thought the same things. You’re thinking: PASTOR, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH. TIMES ARE TOUGH. THE ECONOMY STINKS. INFLATION IS THROUGH THE ROOF. MONEY IS TIGHT. But consider that God already knows and understands that. If God calls you to obedience in the area of tithes and offerings, would He not then give you the ability to do it? Think of what Jesus says in Matthew 6—you don’t have to worry about food and clothes and things like that. He said:

Matthew 6:33 NET 2nd ed.

33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

-Look, you seek and pursue God’s kingdom with all your might, obey His Word, and all those other things you are worried about will be added unto you as well. And this leads to the final lesson, that God gives:

3) A guarantee for a faithful follower (vv. 10, 11)

-God says in v. 10 to bring the entire tithe into the storehouse, which for the Jews would be the treasury storehouse of the temple because it was at the temple where ministry to God happened at the time. Bring your tithes and offerings to the designated place from where God’s ministry commences—which would be the church. And if you do, God says that if you obey Him in the area of tithes and offerings He will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour down so much blessing it would overflow—there isn’t enough room to hold the blessing.

-Now, before you think that all of a sudden I turned a 180 and became a Health and Wealth preacher, I am not saying (because Scripture does not say) crazy things like send in your $1000 and God will give you 100 times as much. But what God is saying that if you obey Him, see if He doesn’t give you spiritual blessings in abundance. See if He doesn’t give you spiritual health and revival. See if He will not take care of your needs (not your wants, but your needs). If a bird in the middle of the forest doesn’t have anything happen to it without His knowing it and willing it, how much more precious are you to God than a bird? If He fed and took care of the bird its whole life, how much more will God take care of you.

-We still might not have enough faith to believe it, but God in v. 10 says to TEST HIM IN THIS MATTER. Go ahead and return to Him and obey Him and see what He’ll do. But we still might not trust Him with this. Some of the problem is that we’ve strapped ourselves with so much debt we can’t think straight. For others, the priorities of our finances and resources are out of whack—I can’t give to the church, but I can buy my kid this several hundred dollar toy that will keep them out of my hair. I repeat what I said earlier—where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Maybe you’re not giving to God because your heart is in the world and not with God.

-You say you can’t afford to give tithes and offerings, but God says you can’t afford not to. You’re robbing yourself when you’re robbing God. TEST ME IN THIS MATTER TO SEE IF I WILL NOT OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT BLESSING FOR YOU UNTIL THERE IS NO ROOM FOR IT ALL.

-V. 11 talks about the provision and protection He gives when obedient in this area. If you are disobedient, you face the curse of judgment/discipline. But for them, being an agricultural society, God says when you’re obedient I WILL STOP THE PLAGUE FROM RUINING YOUR CROPS AND THE VINE WILL NOT LOSE ITS FRUIT BEFORE HARVEST. God is saying I will provide and protect. Test me on this. Trust and obey, because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.

Conclusion

-A few years back, a Galveston church had a Tithing Demonstration Sunday for its members. On a designated Sunday everyone was asked to give a tithe of one week’s salary. They urged everyone … whether or not they usually tithed … to give a tithe that one time. As you could imagine, the offering that Sunday was the largest ever given. In fact, it was 6 times the usual offering. The aftermath was even more exciting. Many who had never tithed before changed their attitude and decided if they could do it once, they could do again. By the end of that year giving was up almost 3 times what it had been before the demonstration. The enthusiasm was up more than that. Over and over, people gave testimonies of the many changes in their lives as God fulfilled his promise in Malachi 3:10. All of this came from a simple obedience to Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.

-Now, I’m not going to say that if you obey God in tithes and offerings you will become materially rich or healthy or anything worldly like that. But I will say that when you obey God, your walk with Him is joyous and you will never want to turn back from obeying Him. It’s not just a matter of doing it just because the pastor said so, but it is a matter of spiritual health and spiritual growth, and remembering that when you rob God you’re really robbing yourself.

-Christian, come and pray that God would provide for His church and that the ministry would go forth unhindered.

-But there is another area of obedience that everyone needs to hear, and that is the obedience to the gospel call. Giving to the church won’t get you to heaven. Obedience to the law won’t get you to heaven. But personally believing that Jesus died for you and rose again, that will get you to heaven. If you have never believed...