This lesson examines some of the ways spiritually apathetic people mistreat God with their sinful attitudes and actions. If we want to respond to God with the honor and obedience He rightfully deserves, then we need to evaluate how we treat Him. Can
you imagine what it might be like to weary your Father in heaven? Have you
turned away from Him lately? Could you possibly, just possibly be actually stealing from your
Father in heaven? Wow, is this really how you treat … your Father in heaven? Maybe it's time you made Him a cup of coffee!
When is it alright for your children to question or challenge you in their circumstances in their life? Can they cross a line in their questioning?
I. DO YOU WEARY GOD? – MALACHI 2:17-3:5
Judgment at the Lord’s Coming
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”
3 “See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming,” says the Lord of Hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire and like cleansing lye. 3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by. 5 “I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny justice to the foreigner. They do not fear Me,” says the Lord of Hosts.
What would weary you, as a father, about your kids?
How were the people of Judah wearying God with their words? What was wrong with the things they were saying/asking?
- Reference verse 17 – “evil is good” to explain what the people insinuated about God.
- People had crossed the line from respectful questioning of God’s ways into cynicism, arrogantly accusing God of being unjust. Such pride is foolish (Prov. 3:34; Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).
- The prophet Malachi accused the people of wearying God with their cynical responses. They responded to Him by accusing God of being unjust by treating wicked people as if they were good. The Lord vigorously denied being unjust.
- God is wearied by those who profess to be pious but are not.
- Some people believe that God does not reward righteous people but prospers sinners.
- Cynical people accuse God of being unjust.
- Unbelievers treat God with cynicism.
When you hear judgment is coming: We will all get what we deserve. Does this comfort you or give you concern?
Do you think God’s response of the coming of the Lord surprised any of the people? Is this what they expected?
- He promised to send His messenger to administer justice. He would refine the people as gold is refined by fire. He would bring judgment to all kinds of sins, including failing to meet the needs of the poor.
- People longed for deliverance by the Messiah, but when the Messiah came, he would bring judgment on them instead.
- Malachi included references to both Christ’s initial coming to earth for His ministry and cross and to His second coming to judge.
- All people will face a day of judgment. Believers will be judged, not to determine our eternal destiny, but to determine our reward (2 Cor. 5:9-10). Every word and action counts.
Who gets refined and by whom?
- Refining increases the quality and value of the item.
- God comes in justice to purge and refine His people.
- There will be an evident distinction between the obedient and disobedient.
II. DO YOU TURN FROM GOD? – MALACHI 3:6-7
6 “Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. 7 “Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Hosts. But you ask: “How can we return?”
Why do you as a father give your children "second chances?"
What had changed since the time God first gave the Law (Ex. 24:3, 7)? Why would the people think it was God who had changed? Why would God continue to give us second chances?
- God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob their descendants would become a great nation through whom He would bless the entire world (Gen. 12:1-3). God remained faithful despite the cycle of disobedience perpetuated by the patriarchs’ descendants.
- The reason they had survived was the unchanging character of God, which showed them mercy. Their entire history had been one of sinful rebellion against God. The Lord continued to call them to return to Him and He promised to return to them.
- God is All-Powerful, but He does not force Himself on anyone.
- The fact that God does not change is encouraging to those upon whom He has shown His mercy.
- Our relation with God is based on His unchanging nature.
What did God want from His people? What is involved in returning to God? What is repentance? What is restoration?
- God loves people and goes out of His way to seek and restore those who turn away from Him. We are happiest when we serve Him.
- Returning is about repenting of our sin. It involves confessing our sin and asking God to forgive us. It includes choosing to submit to God and follow His way. It expresses love.
- “How can we return?” could be interpreted, “What need do we have to return?” They were asking how they could come back when they’d never left. They believed they had no reason to repent.
III. DO YOU ROB GOD? – MALACHI 3:8-12
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!” You ask: “How do we rob You?” “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Hosts. 12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Hosts.
What would be a way that our children might rob us?
How can we rob God? Why is it self-defeating?
- The people of Judah stole from God by withholding the tithe He had commanded.
- Tithing acknowledges that God owns everything, and we are returning to Him a portion of what He has allowed us to use as His stewards.
- The people of Judah were “suffering under a curse” (v. 9) because of their disobedience, yet they persisted in it. They thought they would be more prosperous by keeping back for themselves God’s tithe, but their plan backfired.
- Among their sins was another serious sin of omission – failing to give their tithes. By this sin they robbed God. The Lord called them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and He promised blessings to those who obeyed.
- People rob God by withholding their tithes. Failing to tithe was a basic indicator the people were not thinking of God first.
- The rewards of tithing are sometimes physical but always real.
- The secrets of tithing are setting aside the tenth at the beginning and trusting God to meet one’s needs.
- Think of ways God has helped your money and resources stretch to meet your needs.
What other things might we withhold from God besides money? What is the relationship of giving to other parts of life?
- Consider why God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7).
- Name other characteristics of good giving.
Prayer of Commitment
Lord, help me to be faithful in how I live and in how I give. You have given so much for me and to me. Amen
Be in prayer this week with how we respond to God with the honor and obedience He rightfully deserves. This lesson is not to condemn, but it is to convict. Apathy is a dangerous sin and one of the main reasons is that it can be so contagious.
Hope everyone has a blessed rest of the week and we'll see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
