The Reward of the Faithful

Open: Missionary couple returning to America after decades spent serving God on the foreign mission field. As their ship arrived in New York harbor, crowds of people lined the docks. The band was playing, flags were waving, and dignitaries were present to greet the returning hero. On board the ship was a politician who had achieved a successful foreign policy agreement for America. The entire celebration was focused on the politician.

Not even representatives from their own mission agency were on hand to greet the elderly missionaries. The wife looked sadly at all of the festivities and said to her husband, “not even a small recognition for our years of service as we return home.” Her husband wisely reminded her, “we aren’t home yet.”

Transition: It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves as Christ-followers. We can often wonder if anyone even notices our work of service, and we can question if it is worth it.

The people of Malachi’s day were dealing with this same issue. Some of them judged by their present circumstances and reached the conclusion that it actually was not worthwhile to serve God. Others remained faithful. What made the difference and why does that matter to us today?

Let’s look at our text from to discover the answers. READ TEXT:

Nominal Christians make Judgments based on circumstances and arrive at false conclusions ()

Explanation: In this final exchange between God and the people, the LORD points out that they still haven’t been listening to Him. He is telling them that they are still in rebellion against Him. He declares that their “words have been hard against Me.” As usual, the people act surprised and pretend they don’t know what He is talking about. The LORD gives specific charges to end their evasiveness. He states they have made three false claims. They said that:

It is vain to serve God

Serving God just causes us to miss out on life

We are on the wrong side - the ones who are “blessed” are actually the evil doers.

Illustrate: Seventeen year old who doesn’t see the need to finish school. He is not “getting anything out of it,” and is actually losing out by staying in school. So he drops out and goes to work.

Argument: What was taking place at the time that caused these folks to come to the conclusion that serving God and following His commands was useless? Answer: They were watching many of their fellow Israelites prosper while living in complete denial of God and His ways. They saw others “enjoying life” and “getting ahead” simply because they were rejecting God’s standards.

These people were not only withholding the best of the herd, they were not giving any of the herd! They weren’t giving in a small and grudging way; they weren’t giving at all! And they were OK! Their farms and herds were producing, they were able to buy the wife and kids nice things, and they were even going on camel rides to the pyramids.

The first group was envious of this group of wicked ungodly fold [the prosperity of the wicked (cf )], and they decided that God was either unaware or unjust. Either way, denying self while serving God was no longer in their future. Based on their present circumstances they were making the decision to bail on the whole God thing. They had determined it was more profitable to live for self than to live for God!

Many who attend church in the present day have similar thoughts. Some have decided to try the “God thing” for a while and see how it works out. Maybe it was the beginning of a new calendar year, maybe the birth of a child, possibly the loss of a job or loss of health; maybe having an older child who is rebelling against authority. Whatever the reason, some folks decide to “try Jesus.”

Many who attend church in the present day have similar thoughts. Some have decided to try the “God thing” for a while and see how it works out. Maybe it was the beginning of a new calendar year, maybe the birth of a child, possibly the loss of a job or loss of health; maybe having an older child who is rebelling against authority. Whatever the reason, some folks decide to “try Jesus.”

So they attend church services for 4 or 5 weeks, or 6 months, give some money, read the Bible, and just do the “church thing.” After a couple of months, with no discernable differences, they conclude that “God doesn’t work” and go back to living life. [Bob Schruce at SP, read the entire Bible, put in security systems for the pastors, etc]

Application: God is not a genie in a bottle and He doesn’t exist just to smooth all the rough edges of our lives. He is God and He is worthy of all glory and honor. He is the King and we are the servants. We are called to trust and obey.

Making judgments about personal faith based on practical outcomes are not wise. Coming in with a “try and see” approach is dishonoring to who He is. I do not like the “Try Jesus” philosophy. He is not a 30 day approach to a better life, and Pragmatism has no foundation in the Bible. God is not under our judgment; we are under His. It is the height of arrogance for us to attempt to criticize the way He rules the universe.

Believers are called to fear the LORD and serve Him ()

Explanation: A second group is mentioned, a group made up of “those who feared the LORD.” These are the true believers. The first group were those who were just going through the outward motions of worship; this second group were those who encountered God through genuine worship. These true believers were faithful to the covenant in spite of the prosperity of the wicked. These folk saw God for who He was, not just in terms of what He could do for them.

This faithful remnant had great respect for God in that they held His Name in high esteem. While the first group of “professed believers” were despising God’s Name through inferior offerings (), the remnant were working hard to make God’s Name “great among the nations” (1:11) and to “give honor to His Name (2:2).

Because they belonged to God, they worshiped God in spirit and truth (cf ). God recognized their status as His people by writing their names in His book of remembrance. God promised them that they were part of His treasured possession! What a great truth!!

They had reverence and respect for the things of God and in New Testament terms, they were worshiping God in truth and spirit (cf John 4:24)

Argument: Christ followers are called to a life of self denial. READ . Living for Jesus means that it is about HIM, not us. Living for Jesus means that we bring glory to Him, not to ourselves. We are to expend our efforts in building up and promoting His Kingdom ().

How the world responds to our efforts is immaterial. How the false believers in the church respond to us doesn’t matter either. We are His sheep and the Shepherd tells us that He knows our names (,)

Application: Jesus people are those who understand that we have died to self. We can state with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” ()

God will make a clear distinction between Nominal Christians and True Believers ()

Explanation: The prophet gives the remnant a promise of encouragement. In the midst of their struggle, Malachi urges them to look into the future for their ultimate redemption. The prophet once again speaks of the final judgment at the end of time. He reminds the people that God will bring final and true justice.

The ungodly and the wicked will suffer the fires of judgment, and they will receive justice. Their boasting and arrogance will be silenced forever, and they will be no more (). A clear and unmistakable distinction will be made ()

For the godly, the outcome will be incredibly different. Instead of Justice, they will receive grace and the full pardon that comes with it. We will see the Day of the Messiah, the Day when the Sun rises on a new time, a time of healing and renewal. A blessed time of joy and dancing and celebrating. It will truly be glorious and it will be worth it all. As the Apostle Paul declares, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” ()

Application: There are only two paths in this life, only two. We either live for God through faith in the finished work of Jesus, or we live for self. Of the two paths, the choice of living for self is the easier one. It is the path of least resistance and it is well-traveled (). It is also the path that ends in judgment and eternal separation from God in a terrible place of torment called Hell.

The other path is not as well traveled. The entrance to the path is very narrow indeed. A door to the path does exist and His Name is Jesus (, ). Entry to the straight and narrow path is limited to those who come through Jesus (). While this path is often lonely and difficult and full of struggle, no one walks alone. And the end of this path is an Eternal Celebration with the Savior with joy inexpressible and filled with Glory.

As we prepare to Observe Communion together at the Lord’s Table, I ask that you examine your life. Participation of The Table is reserved for His sheep. It is a time of worship that is only made possible among those who have experienced regeneration through faith in the finished work of Jesus.

We are going to have a time of response before we enter into the ordinance of Communion. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of your need for a Savior, I urge you to surrender to Jesus now. The Door is Open and Jesus is calling.

And for His sheep: use this time of response to listen to God. Communion is a time of family worship in which we come together in the common bond of faith in Jesus. Ensure that this time of worship is not hindered by bitterness, grudges, or spiritual drift. Do business with the Shepherd so that you can approach the Table with joy and anticipation!