WILL A MAN ROB GOD?

The book of Malachi was written over 400 years before our Lord came to this earth. Malachi uses what some have called the "Didactic Dialectic" method of teaching. This method of teaching can be divided into three parts: 1) An assertion or charge is made, 2) the writer gives the presumed objection to the charge, and 3) the objection is refuted.

Among the sins cited in this book, we find corrupt priests, infidelity and rampant divorce. The first sin mentioned is the offering of defiled sacrifices to God (Mal. 1:6-11). The people were offering sick, lame and blind animals on God's altar. Malachi chides the people by urging them to offer this type of sacrifice to their governor. God equated their offering with a lack of reverence for Him and accused them of despising His name (Mal. 1:6).

Malachi brings this topic up again in the third chapter. He asks, "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings" (Malachi 3:8).

When Christians assemble on the Lord's Day for scriptural purposes, I wonder if they are repeating the sin of Israel by "robbing God." Christians are commanded to give of their means on the first day of the week. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Paul said, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come."

How much should I give? How much does God expect from me? I want us to look at three Bible examples of giving. I believe if we develop the proper attitude towards giving, the amount will take care of itself.

King David

David sinned against God by numbering the children of Israel (2 Samuel 24). Upon realizing his sin, David sincerely repented and sought God's forgiveness. God sent a plague upon the land for three days, as punishment for this sin. Seventy thousand men in Israel died from the plague.

After the plague ceased, David went to "erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunuh the Jebusite" (2 Sam. 24:18). When David tried to buy the threshing floor, Araunuh offered to give it to David, with wood for the fire and oxen for the sacrifice. David turned down this magnanimous offer. In refusing he said, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing" (2 Sam. 24:24).

Do we ever offer God "that which costs us nothing?" How much money do you make? I mean really make? Sometimes people look at their "take home" pay and delude themselves into thinking that is all the money they make. The self employed know better than that, for they now pay over 15% of their income to Social Security. If you are employed by another, your employer pays half of this cost. What about your health insurance? You can easily tack on another $300 per month if you add this. Let's not forget your retirement plan at the factory. Add at least another $200 per month. Some would have to add their Christmas bonus, company car and other perks. Now, how much money do you make? How much of that do you give to the Lord? Are you giving Him "that which cost you nothing?"

The Poor Widow

The story of the poor widow is an outstanding example of love, devotion and sacrifice. Her story is recorded in Mark 12:41-44: "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Him and said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

I get nauseated when brethren try to tell me how much they are like this widow. Congregations often sing "Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford" I refuse to sing this song. I sincerely doubt that any of our readers can sing these words without lying. Most of us have automobiles, color TV's, VCR's and central air.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if God made people as poor as they claimed to be? During a recent gospel meeting a preacher told me the contribution where he preached was low because "the farmers had a bad year." I told him I had never met a farmer who had a good year! Many claim poverty, yet somehow some of these men own large motor-homes and are able to vacation in Florida. The problem is not just with farmers, many folks claim to be poor when the collection plate is passed.

Brethren In Macedonia

I know the brethren in Macedonia lived in poverty. Yet, somehow these brethren could send a "gift" to the saints in Judea. Paul explains it in 2 Corinthians 8:5, "And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." It was no problem for these Christians to give what they could, for they had already "given themselves to the Lord." When a man realizes that every good thing he possess comes from God, he will give generously, not out of obligation. Paul also exhorted these brethren to "prepare your bountiful gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:5-7).

Conclusion

Brethren, there is a part of your income that does not belong to you - it belongs to the Lord. Will a man rob God? He might in this life. He might convince his brethren he is giving the "widows mite," but God knows. There will be a day of accounting. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Written by: David Padfield