Polluting The God Of Heaven

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.” [1]

It is astonishing, to say nothing of fostering deep concern, to discover that an offering presented before the Lord, a gift meant as an act of worship, can pollute the Lord Whom we claim to worship by bringing that gift! However, that is precisely the charge that the LORD God levelled against worshippers among His ancient peoples, as recorded in our text. Aren’t offerings voluntarily given? Don’t we determine what we will give and then bring that which we’ve decided to give? Isn’t that the statement Peter made to a man and his wife who attempted to deceive the first congregation that was established in Jerusalem?

You will recall how this couple who were members of the first church, thought to deceive the church, which is tantamount to attempting to deceive the Spirit of God. You may recall the pointed words Peter spoke as he exposed Ananias. “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God” [ACTS 5:3-4]. With that, the man who thought he could deceive God was struck dead.

However, the judgement of God was not finished, for Ananias’ wife, Sapphira, had agreed to share in the lie. When Peter asked her to verify whether the story her husband had attempted to tell was accurate, she agreed, saying, “Yes, for so much” [ACTS 5:8b]. At this, Peter pronounced judgement. “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out” [ACTS 5:9].

Haven’t we learned the lessons cautioning against polluting the God of Heaven during times past as we participated in the act of giving during the services of our church? Permit me to iterate truths concerning giving that I have enumerated on multiple occasions throughout my years of service among the churches of our Lord. Giving, as taught in the Word of God, is an act of worship. Because it is an act of worship, the gifts we bring are voluntary. God does not coerce His people to give; He invites them to worship through the act of giving.

Through the Word of the Lord, we learn that giving that pleases God is:

• sacrificial and

• it is always generous.

• The gifts we present as our worship are to be thoughtful