Series: What does it mean to put God first?
Sermon Recap
Malachi 3:6–15 challenges us to examine what
our giving reveals about our trust in God. God begins by reminding His people,
“I the LORD do not change,” establishing that His faithfulness remains constant
even when His people are unfaithful. The tithe was an intentional portion given
within Israel's covenant relationship with God, and their refusal to give
revealed a deeper problem of misplaced trust. They were withholding from God
because they had forgotten that everything they possessed ultimately came from
Him. God calls His people to return to Him through faithful obedience and
invites them to trust His provision. While we do not live under the same
covenantal system, the question for us is why would we ever want to give
anything less? We give because He has given to us, and we can live generously
because our security rests not in what we possess but in the God who faithfully
provides and saves.
Malachi 3:6-15
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you,
O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have
turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will
return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will
man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In
your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are
robbing Me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the
storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test,
says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and
pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the
devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your
vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all
nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord
of hosts. 13 “Your words have been hard against Me, says the Lord. But you say,
‘How have we spoken against You?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God.
What is the profit of our keeping His charge or of walking as in mourning
before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers
not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.”
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Malachi
3:6-15.
Discussion Questions
- What does the word “tithe” mean, and what was its purpose in Israel's covenant life?
- Why does God describe withholding the tithe as “robbing” Him?
- What can our giving reveal about what we trust?
- How should Christians understand Malachi 3 considering the New Testament's teaching on generosity?
- Why is God's faithfulness essential to our willingness to give?
- What is the difference between giving to get from God and giving because we trust God?
- What fears can make it difficult to trust God with our finances?
- How does the gospel motivate us toward generosity?
Closing Thoughts
God's resources are not given to us merely
for personal consumption. Generosity allows us to meet tangible needs, practice
hospitality, support gospel ministry, and create opportunities for
relationships that point people toward Christ.
We can hold our resources with open hands
because our security does not ultimately come from what we have; it comes from
the God who faithfully provides. Look for opportunities this week to use
something God has entrusted to you — your money, time, home, skills, or
influence to serve someone else. Furthermore, tithing is a discipline every
believer should practice for the sole reason that we should delight to do so.
Why would we not want to give generously to
the God who made us and saves us by His grace?
END
Teacher Notes:
What do George Bailey and Mr. Potter
believe money is for?
Potter sees money primarily in terms of
business, profit, and personal advantage. George sees the Building & Loan
as a way to help ordinary people obtain homes.
Which man's philosophy is closer to the way
we
sometimes think about the things
God has given us?
At first glance, this clip sounds like it’s
all about money. But it's really a picture of the heart. And that's exactly
where Malachi takes us this morning. The issue isn’t just what we're giving,
it’s what our giving says about what we really believe.
Who owns what I have?
Where is my security?
And what am I willing to do with what God has
placed
in my hands?
Malachi 3:6-7
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Malachi 3:8-10
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Peter Bailey “never once thought of himself,”
he didn’t save enough to put his kids through college, but he helped the
community get out of Potter’s slums.
So, if giving reveals what we trust, what
does God want us to do with what we've been given?
This is where our third point comes in.
Malachi 3:11-12
I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that
it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall
not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you
blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
In 1985, some of the most famous musicians in
the world came together to record a song. They gave their voices, their time,
and their influence to help people they would probably never meet. And there
was a message over the door waiting for them when they arrived. “Check your ego
at the door.”
They weren't there to see who could sing the
best. They weren't there to promote themselves. They weren't there to compete
for the spotlight.
They were there to take something they had
been given and use it for the benefit of someone else.
Harry Belafonte originated the idea. Lionel
Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the song, and Quincy Jones produced the
recording.
The original recording generated more than
$63 million for African famine relief and related humanitarian work.
One man had an idea. Forty-plus artists had
gifts. And one producer brought them all together.
They each brought what they had.
Conclusion
God doesn't ask you to have somebody
else's gift.
He asks you to faithfully use the gifts He
has
given you.
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