I Have Loved You! Malachi Pt 1 Series

ii. I think this motto needs some thought and it should be one that the Christian repeats to them selves over and over. Why? Because in the kingdom of God we always want to give what is not the best.

1. The truth is we actually want to keep the best for ourselves.

2. I have been around the church a long time and I have noticed that some people not all always wants to give to the ministry their junk and then get a tax write-off for it.

a. I have seen people give trucks to ministries that just need to be junked.

b. I have seen people give appliances that are broken and not working.

c. I have seen people just want to give God their leftovers and they think God is impressed with their broken sacrifice or defective gift.

iii. We even like to influence others and make it look like we are giving the best when we actually keep the best for ourselves.

1. We like to try to impress people with our ½ hearted sacrifices and make it sound like it is a major sacrifice. But God says he knows our hearts and our intent.

iv. It’s amazing how our self-centered nature wants to keep the best for ourselves.

1. We keep the best time for ourselves. We then give God the leftovers of our time.

2. We keep the best finances for ourselves. We then give God what ever we have leftover after we have spent the best money on our best material possessions.

3. We keep the best things for ourselves. We then give God the items when they have gotten broken or used up and in need of repair.

4. We keep the best cars for ourselves. Then when they are broken and no good we give them to God’s work.

v. The truth that Malachi is revealing by the Holy Spirit is best summarized for us by Nowery:

1. We must not lose sight of the fact that Jesus came for one purpose only: to do the will of the Father. He reminded the disciples of this repeatedly because He wanted them to understand that it was their purpose as well (67).

a. The Lord is telling us today that our responsibility is to do the will of the father!

i. We are not here on earth to get rich and to live the good life of pleasure, leisure and luxury.

ii. This is not the plan of God – If you doubt this read the Gospels again.

c. We must remember that we do have a responsibility to give an account of our lives to God according to Romans 14:12:” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

i. With this realization comes the thought, “How we are going to be held accountable for the way we live our lives?” The truth is we will give an account for certain every area of our lives.

1. One way we are going to be held accountable is in the way we treat others. Relationships do matter to God. One day we will have to answer to God about our relationships.

a. Exodus 20:12 – especially our parents

b. Hebrews 13:7 – to spiritual leaders

c. Romans 13:8 – to the ones we love

d. To strangers and to our neighbors.

2. Truth is we will also be held accountable for the words that come out of our mouths.

a. What you say is important to God. Remember don’t forget this truth. There will come a day when you will hear it all again in heaven- that is if you don’t repent and make it right now.