✎ Like many adult children, I have some things left over from my growing up days still tucked away somewhere at my mom and dad’s house. One is a wall plaque I was given the summer of my high school graduation. My name is engraved below the words "Evangel Temple Worker of the Year." This plaque like other ribbons and trophies collected over the years were the rewards I received for my childhood accomplishments.
All of us like to be rewarded for our efforts; it feels good to be recognized for our achievement. Reward makes all the hard work and effort worth it.
What are the rewards for serving God? If someone were to ask you about your spiritual awards, what would you tell them? Can you identify the rewards of being a Christian? Is the plaque you will receive from God something you will appreciate, or will it just gather dust? Does the prize make it all worth the effort?
Malachi offers us "Godly Insight for Today." We are not the only ones tempted to say, "What’s the use? Why should I serve Jesus?" God’s people have grumbled and complained for generations.
+ Read: Malachi 3:13-18
> SPIRITUAL MYOPIA (verses 13-15)
The people of Malachi’s day were suffering from a spiritual myopia or near-sightedness. Near-sighted individuals have a blurred or distorted perspective; they have trouble seeing things at a distance.
I call spiritual myopia "me-optic vision." "Me-optic vision" is near-sighted focusing on self. Not only does spiritual near-sightedness fail to see the needs of others, "me-optic vision" lacks an eternal perspective and can only see the here and now. Spiritual near-sightedness is unable to see the eternal rewards given to those who serve the Lord.
God had heard the people’s complaining. They said, "It’s futile to serve God" (NIV). The people focused on themselves; all they could see were their problems. In their eyes they saw those who didn’t serve God as having it better than they had it and said, "It doesn’t pay to serve the Lord; what have we gotten out of it?"
+ Malachi 3:14 ’What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for our sins? (NLT)
How often are we like the people of Malachi’s day? With "me-optic vision" we too fail to see beyond the here and now. We see our neighbors seemingly coast through life without any difficulties, while hardships and problems are squeezing us tightly. "I give up! What’s the use of trying to serve God?"
"Me-optic vision" or spiritual near-sightedness focuses on our problems and lacks the eternal perspective to see what God wants to accomplish in us through those difficulties. God has a greater plan for our lives than just the present; the question is can we see it? Can we see the reward He has prepared for us?
God wants us to know the rewards He has planned for us; God does not want us to become discouraged or lose sight of what is ahead of us.
The Apostle Paul was motivated to win the reward God had prepared for him. He told the Philippians, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (3:14 NIV). He told the Corinthians, "You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win" (1 Cor. 9:24 MsgB).
Malachi shows us the rewards God has prepared for those who don’t give up; who keep their eye on the prize and run in such a way as to win the race.
However, before we look at the rewards of righteousness, I want us to notice something important.
> WE NEED EACH OTHER!
Verse 16 says, "Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other." People were complaining; "me-optic vision" had infected the church. THEN the people of God got together to talk it over.
Folks, we need each other! The Bible tells us plainly, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another" (Hebrews 10:25 NIV). We can’t make it on our own.
"Me-optic vision" often leads to a progression of negative responses. Three are worth noting quickly.
> Spiritual near-sightedness questions God’s Word.
Individuals will begin to question what they have learned; their faith will waiver. Some questions will never be verbalized for fear of being rejected. Unchecked, our doubts will grow, and over time these growing questions may find expression through critical statements about life being unfair. Rather than openly questioning God or His Word, the questions will turn to the world around us asking "Why?"
> Spiritual near-sightedness withdraws from fellowship.
As the doubts and questions grow individuals will become increasingly more and more isolated from the church. By "the church" I don’t mean worship services or programs. Today, the average church attender will miss11 or more Sundays each year without giving it any thought. Why? Worship services don’t build relationships with people.
We need to build loving relationships with each other to stay connected. A caring friend will notice when an individual withdraws.
> Spiritual near-sightedness resists authority.
Ultimately individuals will reject the authority of God’s Word and the spiritual authorities placed over them. They become increasingly more independent ignoring pastors, teachers or caring friends who speak the truth of God’s word into their lives.
Unfortunately, those with "me-optic vision," the spiritually near-sighted cannot always see what’s really happening. We need each other! Together we can help each other see with an eternal perspective, to see the rewards which God has prepared for us.
So what are the rewards God has prepared for the righteous? Verses 16, 17, and 18 open our eyes to three rewards which will motivate us to not give up.
REWARD #1: GOD REMEMBERS HIS OWN.
+ Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and loved to think about him. (NLT)
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle to remember. I sometimes say, "I have a paper memory; if I don’t write it down, then forget it!" How many of us have ever met an old friend, but we couldn’t remember their name?
God’s memory is not like ours, but we think it is. "God, have you forgotten me?" "God, are you there?" At one time or another we have all thought God must have more important things to think about, so He must have just put us out of His mind; "I hope He remembers me soon."
The Lord does not forget us; GOD REMEMBERS HIS OWN!
+ Isaiah 49:15 Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I’d never forget you--never! (MsgB)
+ Isaiah 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. (NIV)
The nails were driven through Jesus’ hands into a wooden cross to pay the penalty of our sin. The scars remain; He cannot forget you. Our names are written upon the palms of His hands.
+ 1 Corinthians 8:3 But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for. (NLT)
Look again at Malachi 3:16. When God heard the conversation of those who feared His name, the Lord had a book of remembrance written down. God recorded their names to forever preserve what had been done. God will not forget you!
Malachi says a book of remembrance was written concerning "those who feared the Lord and honored His name." What will God remember about you?
1. God will remember your friends.
Malachi says some folks who feared the Lord got together to talk. God will take notice of who you choose to hang out with and remembers your friends.
Why would God remember our friends? Someone has said, "Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future."
+ 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (NIV)
+ Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. (NLT)
When we stand before God we won’t be able to blame our friends or our enemies. God will show us our friends as a reminder of the choices we made. Our friends will either influence us to honor God, or they will lead us away from God. The choice is ours and God remembers.
2. God will remember what you say.
Malachi tells us when these friends got together, "the Lord listened and heard" everything they said to each other. God hears what you say, and He won’t forget it.
+ James 3:2-10 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (NIV)
Watch what comes out of your mouth; God is listening and remembers what you say.
3. God will remember what you do.
A book of remembrance was written concerning "those who feared the Lord and honored His name." Put simply, the fear of the Lord produces obedience which is the only way to honor His name.
+ Proverbs 14:2 Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him. (NLT)
+ Proverbs 16:6 Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil. (NIV)
What is God having written in the book of remembrance concerning your life and mine. God knows those who truly fear Him and honor His name by watching how we live our lives.
+ Psalm 33:13-15 13From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; 14from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth¨C15he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. (NIV)
God will remember what we do. What we do for Him will not be done in vain. Remember Peter and John before the courts - they said judge for yourself whether it is better to obey man or God - He sees us when we obey Him and He remembers.
4. God will remember your secret thoughts.
It all begins and ends with what is hidden within our hearts. Only God knows our secret thoughts and motives.
+ Acts 15:8 [God] can’t be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person’s thoughts. (MsgB)
God knows the condition of your heart and mine; He knows our thoughts. We may fool one another by the things we do or say, but God won’t be fooled because He doesn’t just look at the outside. God looks deep inside to see the real condition of the heart.
+ Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NIV)
God alone can change us from the inside out; only He can give us a new heart and change our lives. God sees inside our hearts and will remember our secret thoughts.
REWARD #2: GOD RECEIVES US AS HIS OWN.
+ Malachi 3:17 "They will be mine," says the Lord Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.
God makes you His own; "They will be mine."
+ 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)
You are valuable to God! He wants you to be His very own! You are His "treasured possession."
Unfortunately, some of us don’t feel valuable; we only see ourselves as worthless. Some of you feel empty inside. You have been rejected by family and friends, put down and ridiculed. Satan wants you to believe lie, "You are unloved and unwanted." Don’t believe it!
You are precious to God; you are His treasured possession. God sees you as valuable and was willing to pay the ultimate price to make you His own.
+ 1 Peter 1:18-19 It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. [19] He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. (MsgB)
REWARD #3: JESUS WILL RETURN FOR HIS OWN.
+ Malachi 3:18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. (NIV)
THE DAY
Malachi not only prepares the way for Christ’s first coming, but God also uses this prophet to announce Christ’s second coming! Beginning in 3:17 and continuing through the end of chapter 4 Malachi sees the great day when Christ will establish His kingdom once and for all. And guess what--Christ’s second coming is the focus for next week.
On that day He will come with His reward and make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked.
+ Matthew 25:31-46 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. [34] "Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ [37] "Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ [40] "The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ [41] "Then he will say to those on his left, ’Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ [44] "They also will answer, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ [45] "He will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ [46] "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (NIV)
> Our God makes a difference in us. If we keep the end in sight we will live differently.
> He gives us joy and life in His presence right now, too!
Remember the good stuff - what else are His rewards? Who else can give you love the way He can? NO ONE! Who else can give you peace? NO ONE! He gives purpose and meaning!
