Can a Man Rob God? Malachi 3:6-8

Can a Man Rob God? Malachi 3:6-8

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Statute (law)

Malachi 3:7 Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. God tells Israel the same thing in Zechariah

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. The Book of James Repeats This Promise

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Malachi 3:7 But ye said, Wherein shall we return? How (In what Way?)

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Would anyone dare to rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.

Malachi 3:8 But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? How (In what Way?)

Malachi 3:8 In tithes and offerings. The Mosaic Law gave very specific instructions concerning the giving of a tenth part of the harvest and one s livestock

Leviticus 27:30-32 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD S: it is holy unto the LORD. 31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Commentary God ordained this system of giving in order to provide for the material needs of the Levites (the priests) The continual presentation of gifts to the LORD served to remind Israel that all that they received and enjoyed came from God

How had Israel departed from the LORD? In what way were they to return to the LORD?

Malachi 3:8 In tithes and offerings.

Giving Statistics The average donation by adults who attend U.S. Protestant churches is about $17 a week. if their annual income was $33,000 (median income in America [25+ years]) their annual giving works out to be 2.6% of their income http://healthresearchfunding.org/21-tithing-statistics/

Most people don t realize how little they are truly giving Americans typically exaggerate their giving. If you give $50 a month to the church your weekly gift is $11.54

Matthew 6:21 Jesus said: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Israel s failure to give tithes and offering to the LORD was an indication that there was a heart problem

80 70 60 50 In 2014 less than 25% of Bereans gave over 75% of the total contributions 40 30 20 10 0 % Church $ Given

Fact You give to (or pay for) what you value what you think is important

Giving Statistics 37% of people who attend church every week and identify themselves as Evangelical don t give any money to their church http://healthresearchfunding.org/21-tithing-statistics/

Consider This Fact If 63% of Berean gives about $25,000 a week, the weekly income could increase by $14,700 if the other 37% participated in giving to the church

Just the Facts 14,700 x 52 = $764, 400 No increase in the light bill No increase in staff No increase in attendance What could the church do w/ $764,400 more a year?

Money for Missions, etc. 11% of 764,400 would be $84,084 At $1000 a month we could support 7 new missionaries/church planters 2% of 764,400 would generate $15,288 for benevolence requests

Anytime a person uses Malachi 3 to emphasize the need to tithe to the church the question concerning the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant is brought up

the OT tithe provided for the needs of the priests Numbers 18:26

Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.

What is God s plan for funding the needs of the NT Church? first Jesus, then Paul

Matthew 23:23 (Luke 11:42) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

What then does Jesus say about giving Turn to Luke 6:38

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

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Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. That is a conditional promise

Luke 6:38 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. Notice how the LORD gives back

Luke 6:38 (ESV) For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

Why is it imperative that Christians are characterized by being generous?

Being characterized by generosity means we get the gospel

Being Generous Sets the Christian apart Promotes the work of the LORD here and around the world Meets the needs of others Creates physical locations and structures for assembly and discipleship

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Matthew 10:10 Jesus said: (to the future apostles) Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. Paul will later reference this saying from the LORD

Luke 22:35-36 Just before his death And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse [moneybag], let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

the moneybag was the equivalent of the general fund for the apostles Judas was the Treasurer

John 12:6 (ESV) He [Judas] said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Paul Provides Greater Clarity Through His Epistles

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward. The laborer deserves his wages.

Turn to 1 Corinthians 9:3 Notice The Argument Paul Makes

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power [right] to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal [material] things? Look at v. 13 to see how Paul has no problem reaching back to the OT as an example of how the gospel ministry is to be funded

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Where do the wages come from? In the OT, they would come from God s People

How much do I have to give? Here is the NT Standard: 2 Corinthians 9:7

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

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