How Have I Robbed God?

How Have I Robbed God?

Mal. 3:8-12

Intro: Please turn with me to the Book of Malachi chapter three. This morning we’re continuing on in our series of messages from the Book of Malachi which we’ve entitled, “Questions People Ask.” This morning we’re going to look at our sixth question that people ask. This question comes from God’s people who thought they were doing all the right things and yet God says that they were failing in their relationship with Him.

Malachi 3:8 - "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ’How do we rob you?’

There is one subject in preaching that some people really take offense to, and it isn’t the subject of "sin" … or of Jesus’ 2nd coming … or "Hell" … it is money!

More people have worshipped money than any other idol or god, and perhaps this is why it hits close to home when it is the subject of a sermon. There is no other thing in life that touches every area of our life more than money -- except God Himself. Money can be used for good or evil, it is a necessity for life. Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke about stewardship or money issues in 17 out of the 36 parables He gave … nearly half the total!

It is one thing when the world has a bad attitude about money being given to God, you would kind of expect this, but many times it isn’t the unsaved that get in a huff when the subject of giving is brought up … it is people who know about God! While in principle most Christians agree that we should do something for God there seems to be a power in money that as soon as we have more of it there is a greater degree of hesitation to let go of it to God or anyone else.

ILLUS: John Maxwell story:

My 14-year-old son, Joel Porter, has a job this year. He got his first, official paycheck. Boy, was he thrilled. He came home and showed me his paycheck. Then he marched into the room where Mom was and said, "You know, I’ve thought it over and I’m not sure I can afford to tithe." He has more money in his hand than he’s ever had before, and what happens? All of a sudden we say, "I really need this money for something else." Out of the mouth of a 14-year-old boy, true to his human nature, comes this whole question, "Where do I put God?" Is he first? Is he second? Is he fifth? Is he twenty-third in my life? Where is God? -- John Maxwell, "God’s Trust Test," Preaching Today, Tape No. 156.

Our sinful nature has a hard time giving to God. This is an old story, Israel too discovered how hard it can be to give, and also how much harder it is NOT to give to the Lord!

The Bible teaches us that God takes seriously the use of money, that we cannot say we honor God with words but not with our wallet. Refusal to give to God is tantamount to robbing or stealing from God and thus removes us from under many of God’s blessings. Worship INCLUDES the giving of our substance in recognition that God is the rightful owner of all things. The people ask, “How Have I Robbed God?” It is a question we all need to ask this morning. So let’s see what God says. But first, let’s pray.

I. CIRRHOSIS Of The GIVER! 3:8-9

A. Believers CALLED To ACCOUNT 3:8

1. God begins this section with an indictment, Israel had attempted to "steal" from God!

a) It is one thing to steal from man, but to rob God really takes guts!

b) But this is exactly the language God used about their failure to give to Him!

2. Their response to God’s charge is simply, "How have we robbed God?"

a) At the same time they were angry with God for not blessing them they were resistant to giving to God their tithes and offerings.

b) It was ironic that they didn’t like God withholding His blessings but they were withholding their giving to Him and didn’t see anything wrong with it!

3. What had God commanded?

a) Deut. 14:22-23 – “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.”

b) The tithe was commanded for God’s storehouse where the Levites would draw their wages.