Giving That Honors God Series

Giving that honors God

Malachi 1:1-14

There is a story that comes from Clear Creek Baptist College of the Appalachian Mountains. They train preachers in the Kentucky Mountains. One of the college presidents would go all over the area preaching and raising money for the school. He preached at Cold Fork Baptist church. It was a remote area so he parked his car and walked to the service. The church gave $300 as a gift for the Bible College.

As he walked back alone to his car a man emerged from the bushes and put a gun to his back. Your money or your life he said. The president said he had $11 in his wallet, and he could have that. He told him he also had $300 but this was for the Baptist school, and he would have to take his life to get that money.

The man with the gun said, I am a Baptist too. Here is $11, put it toward the work of the school. Of course, this is not a true story. But here is a thief in this story that would not steal the Lord’s money. Malachi 1:1-14 is a serious passage of Scripture. It tells us that there really are people who are stealing the Lord’s money and they may not even be aware of it.

Malachi 1:1-14

1 The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi. (Malachi 1:1)

There is a serious tone God uses with his people who He loves. This message is from Malachi. His name appropriately means messenger. He is delivering an “oracle.” An oracle is a heavy message of warning and judgment. This message is the Word of the Lord.

The message is delivered to Israel about 450 – 400 BC. One hundred years earlier Israel had been released from 70 years of Babylonian captivity by the grace of God. They had re-established their Jewish homeland. The second temple had been rebuilt but religious enthusiasm had worn off. They had become mechanical and lax in their worship of God.

In this Oracle God first declared his love. How could God state his love any clearer or simpler? In both the Old Testament and New Testament this theme of God’s love rings out. That love put Christ on the cross. It takes an incredible love to give your only son for the sake of others. You can be sure God loves you.

2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob; (Malachi 1:2)

God’s love is doubted. How have you loved us they ask. God has a tremendous love for His people, but it is questioned as soon as it is declared. Israel was a weak remnant of what they were. They had been through a lot.

When determining God’s love for them they came to the wrong conclusion that their difficult circumstances meant God didn’t love them. You should know that your circumstances or no indication of whether God loves you. God’s love is confirmed over and over,

3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.” 4 Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.” 5 Your eyes will see this and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!” (Malachi 1: 3-5).

God goes way back to Isaac’s twin boys Esau and Jacob to prove his love. Esau was born first and would have the birthright. But God, in His sovereign grace and love chose to give Jacob that birthright. There is a mystery in election. But God chose to; “bless all the families of the earth”.

Later God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. He had 12 sons who had become the 12 tribes of Israel chosen and redeemed as a nation. If you want further proof of God’s love for Israel look at Edom. These people came from Esau. The “hate” here is a relative hate a lesser love. Israel will see proof of this before their eyes. Both nations were destroyed but only Israel would be allowed by God to rebuild. God says I will not let Edom rebuild Vs 4. Israel if you doubt my love take a look at Edom God says.

Christian you too have been chosen. God has given you salvation and a future hope. During those times you ask why me, look around see the situation of those who have not been saved by the blood of Christ on the cross and then say, why not me?