Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6

Malachi 3:1-4

Luke 3:1-6

“Christmas Greetings!”

Advent  2

December 6, 2009

Christmas is coming!

The goose is getting fat – and for that matter — so am I!

We are all busy – we all have a lot to do and not much time to do it in.      Believe it or not – by this time in 3 weeks Christmas will have come and gone. This may sound like good news to some of you – but some of you may get a sense of panic over all the things you need to do in 3 weeks!

But — in the midst of all the busy-ness of the season — some folks have already taken the time to send Christmas cards.

Oops!

Did I just say a bad word – like adding one more thing to your “to do list”?

Sorry!

But I do love Christmas cards.

I love reading them – looking at them – remembering friends and times together.

Many have very good greetings – like:

Peace On Earth

or

Good Will

or

Rejoice

or even:

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

or

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Some of the greetings on the cards are sentimental – others are as sugar coated as the cakes and sweets I tend to turn to this time of year –

but some are very thought provoking.

And what about the greetings we give – not on cards – but in person?

When we walk up to a friend this time of year or when we greet someone at a party we might say something like:

Merry Christmas!

It seems that’s the greeting that “greeters” at stores are giving us also.

But — I wonder – I wonder if the Prophet Malachi were alive today – and were the type of person who would send out Christmas cards – what greeting and sentiment would his cards express?

Well, probably not:

Peace On Earth

or

Good Will —

and probably not a serene manger scene with Mary, Joseph, the baby and maybe some animals or shepherds and a star.

And if you met him at a party he would probably not say:

Merry Christmas!

But his cards – and his greetings — would probably be more like

Who Can Stand His Coming?

or

Refiners Fire! Fullers Soap!

or

Present An Offering Of Righteousness!

Come to think of it, unless he made his cards himself — he may have a problem finding the right card to communicate his Christmas greeting – and his verbal greeting would definitely be different from most!

Or – what about John the Baptist?

No sweet Christmas cards or verbal greetings from him, either!

His would be more like:

Prepare The Way!

or

Fill The Valleys!

or

Level The Mountains!

or

Make The Crooked Straight!

Like Malachi – he may have problems finding just the right card to communicate his Christmas greeting – and his verbal greeting might be very different from most.

I’m not sure Hallmark or American Greetings make cards to communicate Malachi’s or John The Baptist’s Christmas greetings.

The greetings on the Christmas cards we send and receive are nice – and so are the words we use to greet each others – but – what difference do they really make?

What difference do the greetings

Peace On Earth

Good Will

Rejoice

or even

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

or

Wise Men Still See Him

or Merry Christmas

really make?

Have the typical Christmas cards – even the most thought provoking and the least sentimental – gotten to where they don’t really make a difference?

Has the typical greeting:

Merry Christmas

become just a phrase that we throw out because we feel it’s what we should say?

Do the cards – and their messages — just become more trash for our trash cans or – if we are environmentally conscious – our recycle bends?

Are they – and their messages – just more stuff for the landfill – regardless of how they make it there – or the fireplace?

Is the expression:

Merry Christmas

a meaningful statement – or just is it just words for us?

What real differences do the Christmas greetings we send really make to others?

What differences do the Christmas greetings we receive really make to us?

I wonder.

Maybe we need to turn back to those greetings we will probably never find on Christmas cards or heard at Christmas gatherings — but that may have a greater impact upon us and make a bigger difference to us than the ones we are accustomed to.

Maybe the greetings of Malachi and John the Baptist just might make a real difference to us – and maybe to others – if we will just take the time to look at them and listen to them.

Take Malachi for example.

Malachi knew what it was like to see folks pre-occupied with outer appearance — but not caring about a life-changing faith in God.

He knew what it was like to see people rushing around acting  holy and pious – acting like they were busily preparing for the coming of God – but really not doing anything but acting.

He knew what would happen if God suddenly appeared to them.

Not a reward – but a cleansing of their sins that Malachi likened to a burning fire or scrubbing with the strongest of soap.

You see — the Jews in the community Malachi addressed were a proud bunch of people. They had returned from captivity in Babylon. They had re-built the temple. They had re-instituted worship. They were proud.

So – do you think Malachi’s words to them were very popular?

No – not popular at all – to say the least — but — Malachi knew that their worship was superficial.  He knew they didn’t let their faith make a difference in how they lived. He knew how they lived. He knew how they neglected and mistreated the poor and needy.  He knew how the things of God didn’t really mean anything to them. He knew how God’s will for justice and righteousness meant little to them. He knew that their pride was a very false pride.

And he knew God was going to change all that. God was going to take them and cleanse them — and the process would not be an easy one.

The people prayed for God to come into their midst – but Malachi warned:

Watch out what you pray for – you just might get it.

If God were to come into their midst – Malachi warned – they would not be able to stand the cleansing power of God!

When God came to set their hearts right — could they stand it? Malachi asked.

They needed to be prepared. They needed to be changed people before God came.

That is never an easy greeting to hear.

But — you know that’s John’s message — also.

John knew that the time Malachi spoke about had come — and John knew the people had to be prepared.

Not just outwardly — but in their hearts and in their minds. He knew the people had to repent. They did not just need to be sorry for not going in God’s ways — they did not just need to be sorry the world was not a place of God’s love and justice.  John knew that people had to repent. They had to change their ways.

Eugene Peterson in his translation The Message doesn’t translate the Greek to say that John’s baptism was one of repentance as do most translations — he translates it to read that

John’s baptism was a baptism of life-change.

A baptism of life-change.

The Lord is coming — he said.

The Lord is here — he said.

Change your life – he said.

John knew that the coming of Christ had to change people’s lives!

Malachi and John.

Folks with Christmas greetings that were unusual to say the least – but Christmas Greetings that may make a greater difference than any other we may send.

Christmas greetings that make a difference.

Christmas greetings that make a difference a real difference.

Greetings of cleansing.

Greetings of repentance.

Greetings of righteousness.

Greetings of change.

Greetings of God.

You see — their greetings were – and still are – God’s greetings.

On this Second Sunday in Advent, 2009 – the greetings of Malachi and John are God’s greetings to us.

Greetings of cleansing.

Greetings of repentance.

Greetings of righteousness.

Greeting of change.

Greetings of God.

No — not the sweet or sentimental type of Christmas greetings we might send in cards or say in words — but greetings that can really change our lives – and the lives of others.

Not the sweet or sentimental type of Christmas greetings you might send in cards or say in words — but greetings that can really change your life – and the lives of those around you.

Advent is the time in the Christian year for us to take a closer look at our lives and see what we must do to be truly ready to welcome Christ into our lives –­  and look at the whole idea of a real change in our lives – a cleansing – a change of attitudes – a change of actions – a change of heart – that whole attitude of repentance and turning back to God.

This is so vital – so important.

Friends – the greetings Malachi and John – greetings of cleansing —  repentance – righteousness – and change are truly the Christmas greetings that can make a difference in our lives and our community.

The greetings Malachi and John – greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change are truly the Christmas greetings that can make a difference in your life and the lives of others around you.

So – the question is – how do you respond to the Christmas greetings of Malachi and John?

Do they make a difference in your life?

Do you let the greetings of greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change sink in?

Do you let your life be cleansed by God?

Have you really listened to these greetings God is giving you?

If you have, and let them make a difference in your life, then your life will be changed. You will be a different person. You will be God’s person. If you haven’t, then – like Malachi warned – you will not be able to stand it when God comes!

Have you really listened to these greeting God is giving you?

Have you let these greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change make a difference in your life?

What would your life look like if you let these greetings make a difference – and let them change you?

If you remember a few weeks ago when we were looking at how you might live if you truly made Christ the King of your life, I said that a look at Matthew 5 – 7 – what we call The Sermon On The Mount – as a short “primer” on how to live the Christian life.  Looking at The Sermon On The Mount can give you an idea of what your life might look like if were to really listen to God’s greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change – and let these greeting change your life.

If you respond to God’s greeting of cleansing – - repentance – righteousness and change — your sexual behavior will be in control — you will be honest in your business dealings and all your dealings with others — you will go above and beyond the call of duty in response to appeals for help — you will care for the welfare of, not only your neighbor, but your enemy as well – you will be religious, but not showy about it – possessions will have their rightful place in your life and will not the be-all and end-all of existence — you will not be judgmental but will use good judgment — you will trust God to meet your needs.

If you respond to God’s greeting of cleansing – - repentance – righteousness and change then the way you live will change – and even the way you celebrate the season of Christmas will change. Instead of trying to do “as little as possible” or “take the easy way out” when it comes to getting involved in the community and the Church, you will look for ways to truly get involved and truly celebrate what Christ means to you. Instead of looking for ways to “cut back your involvement” you will look for more ways to get involved and celebrate the joy of serving Christ!

You truly will not want to be like the folks Malachi gave God’s greetings to – folks who acted pious and religious but were really self centered – and who Malachi warned would not be able to stand the coming of God!

Have you really listened to these greeting God is giving you?

Have you let these greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change make a difference in your life?

If so, you will be the person God is calling you to be – celebrating His coming in all you say and do.  If not, as Malachi warns – you will not be able to stand the day of the coming of the Lord – it will be unbearable for you.
The Christmas greetings of Malachi and John are indeed the greetings that will make a real difference.

But – if you really listen to these greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change – and let them make a difference in your life – you’ll want to take the next step and share the greetings of Malachi and John with others. Instead of just greeting folks with a half hearted “Merry Christmas” you might want to tell them what Christmas is all about for you – and what it can be for them. Instead of making “small talk” at parties and gatherings and at work, you might want to make “big talk” – talking to folks about how Christ has changed your life – and can change theirs.

Sally’s sister Sydney is a member of Chapin United Methodist in Columbia.  She shared with Sally the other day that her minster – Jody Flowers – told in his sermon last Sunday about how he missed opportunities at his family’s Thanksgiving gathering this year to share the news of salvation with members of his extended family he felt needed to hear it. He said that his family’s Thanksgiving celebration was a wonderful time with a lot of family and relatives around – and like most families do they talked about what had happened in their lives since they had seen each other the last times or shared fond memories – but Jody said he kicked himself later for not sharing his faith in Christ. He then shared with the congregation that he was going to write some of the ones he wished he had shared his faith with.

The point is – how many times are we around others who need to hear the greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change – and we just engage in “small talk” instead of the “big talk” they need to hear?

Let’s be people who – like Malachi and John – let the greetings of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change – really impact our lives – then share it with others.

Instead of the “same old” sentimental Christmas greetings – let’s hear – take to heart – and spread God’s greeting of cleansing — repentance – righteousness – and change.

Let’s let this be the Christmas greeting we share with others in what we say and in what we do.

Amen

Malachi 3:8-12

Malachi 3:8-12

Are You Robbing God?

Part 2 of Hopewell Stewardship Emphasis 2006

November 19, 2006

We are moving into week 2 of our Stewardship emphasis.

Remember the joke from last week about how the minister told the congregation that he had good news and bad news – the good news being that the Church had all the money it needed to do whatever God called then to do – but the bad news being that most of the money the Church needed was in their wallets!

Also remember that I said last week that stewardship did not just involve what was in your wallets – but that it had to involve everything you have.

Stewardship has got to be more than just giving your money – although that is certainly a part of it. Stewardship has got to involve your life – what you have – what God has given you – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. Actually, our stewardship of what God has given us is our response to God – we see what God has blessed with – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever – and we want to return a potion of it to God for His work in the world.

Stewardship is indeed more than the Capitol One Credit Card Card commercial asks:

What’s in your wallet?

Stewardship involves your life – it involves everything you have.

So – as I said last week – the theme for my stewardship sermons this year could be:

Stewardship – it’s more than what’s in your wallet!

Stewardship is seeing all God has blessed us with – — giving praise to God for all God has blessed us with – and using all God has blessed us with for His work in the world.

It’s more than what’s in your wallet – but we can’t fool ourselves into thinking that it does not involve what’s in our wallets – and we have to look at the hard question of how we do use our money – and how our use of our money shows where our faith is and where our commitments are.

Next week we are going to look at how we can use all our gifts for God – but this week we need to look more closely at how our use of our financial resources – because how we use our financial resources shows where our faith is and where our commitments are.

So — I’m going to raise a hard question today –

Are you robbing God?

Actually, this is not an original question for me – the prophet Malachi raised it centuries ago to the Israelites in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Listen to God’s word to the people of Judah – and to us – in Malachi 3:8-12.

READ SCRIPTURE

Some of you may know may have firsthand knowledge of the feeling of fear and violation that happens when you find that someone has broken into your home and stolen most of your property.

Or maybe you know someone who has experienced this.

While this has never happened to Sally and me, we have had good friends who have had this happen to them – and they say that they felt violated – and wondered :

Who would do this?

Who could be so brazenly uncaring and evil to do something like this?

Well – as brazen, uncaring, and evil as robbing things from someone else seems to be — Malachi discusses an unusual victim of thievery.

Malachi asks the question:

Who’s the last person you would expect to get robbed?

This is the question in Malachi 3:8:

“Will a person rob God?”

And Malachi says the answer is –

“Yes”

“Yes” –

Malchi says – in fact – Malachi says

“you’re robbing him.”

Then – to address the question he was sure his listeners were asking – he continues:

“You ask, ‘How do we rob God?’”

And the answer is:

“In tithes and offerings you are robbing God.”

“Bring the whole tithe into my storehouse”

Malachi says in verse 10.

Bring the whole tithe to God.

Are you robbing God?

Hundreds of years before Malachi addressed the people, God had spelled out how they ought to handle their money.

God said: Here are the guidelines:

Earn money ethically. No schemes, no corruption, no backdoor deals, no gray areas. You can earn a lot of money if you earn it ethically.

Spend money wisely, not foolishly or carelessly. Avoid destructive debt.

Save money consistently for your future.

Give money to the poor generously.

And — as a part of overall money management practices, God established the practice of tithing.

The word tithe simply means a tenth, 10 percent. The idea behind the practice was that God’s people would take 10 percent of whatever increase they experienced and they’d bring it to their worship place as a symbol of their gratefulness to God for the material blessings He had given them.

Some people followed God’s guidelines.

They managed their money and kept their finances under control. They stayed out of debt, had savings, gave to the poor, and brought the full tithe. God was honored for His graciousness – and the work of God was done in the world through the tithes the people brought.

It was a “win / win” situation. The people “won” because God blessed them when they honored Him for His gracious blessings to them. God “won” because the people realized where their material blessings had come from – and returned a portion to Him for His work in the world.

But not everybody followed God’s guidelines – and part of Malachi’s message to the people was an attempt to “reset the bar” so to speak when people were not following God’s guidelines and were making financial decisions that did not honor God.

In Malachi’s day the standard of financial excellence and God’s guidelines for handling material blessings had gone by the wayside, it seemed. In spite of being taught about how to honor God with their resources, it seemed that men and women were making financial decisions that did not honor God and that were downright stupid. They started to make their own rules for how to handle the material blessings God had given them. If you can believe it, in Malachi’s day it seemed that people were deciding to make up their own guidelines for how to handle their finances – and make up for their financial foolishness by — in some cases — not honoring God for His gifts to them by giving at least the tithes that were supposed to give to God.

Are you robbing God?

For example, someone in Malachi’s day might have gone to the local shopping market to pick up a few items for the kids or for the house — and maybe they’d get carried away with their spending. They’d overspend their budget. On the way home they’d think:

“How am I going to make my budget now?”

Then they’d think: “ I’ll just take the tithe money I was supposed to give to God and his work this week and I’ll use that to balance my budget.”

Problem solved!

Then maybe they’d think,

“I wonder what God is going to think about this? Ah, no big deal.”

Are you robbing God?

Maybe someone else would start building a new house and keep adding on the extras, until the only way they could afford it would be to take a whole year of tithe monies and use them to finish the house.

Are you robbing God?

Maybe other people would experience a financial hardship of some kind, maybe a loss of employment, and rather than draw down their savings while they were looking for a new job, they’d say:

“I’ll just stop bringing my tithe to God. He’ll understand. He’s not going to get legalistic about this.”

Are you robbing God?

I’m sure once in awhile, someone in Malachi’s day would hit the financial big time. A windfall would come their way, they’d sell a piece of land that had appreciated, or they’d have a bumper crop. They’d make a ton of money. Then when they’d figure out how much 10 percent of the windfall was going to be, they’d say:

“No way. I don’t care who’s on the throne in heaven. I am not writing a check that large and putting it in the offering plate next week. If God has a problem with that, have his people call my people. Who does he think he is?”

Are you robbing God?

In Malachi’s day the financial standards of excellence had plummeted. Most people had their own reasons for giving less than the full 10 percent of their earnings to God and to his work – and they were brazen about it. They’d say;

“Hey, what’s God going to do? ”

In comes God’s spokesperson, Malachi, who was going to “reset the bar”.

He started the discussion by saying:

“How do you folks feel about getting robbed?”

Pretty bad?

“Well, you should. It’s a terrible thing when someone robs someone. You would never rob anybody, would you? Would you ever rob your neighbor, your friend?”

And the people would respond:

“No. We would never rob anybody.”

At that point Malachi sprung the trap.

“That’s true. You probably don’t mug your neighbors and friends. But here’s the thing: if you wouldn’t mug them, why would you rob the God you say you love and serve?”

“If you have the common decency not to rob neighbors and friends, what would possess you to rob God of what he asks you to give him on a regular basis to honor him?”

“Every time you bring less than the full 10 percent of your earnings to God, you’re ripping off the one who gave his best for you. What you’re doing is unthinkable, and it’s got to stop.”

Are you robbing God?

God’s financial guidelines have not changed.

Earn money ethically. No schemes, no corruption, no backdoor deals, no gray areas. You can earn a lot of money if you earn it ethically.

Spend money wisely, not foolishly or carelessly. Avoid destructive debt.

Save money consistently for your future.

Give money to the poor generously.

And — as a part of overall money management practices, God established the practice of tithing.

So – how well do you follow these guidelines?

Like the folks in Malachi’s day, too many of us find it easy to find excuses for not tithing.

If we overspend our budget, is our tithe the first thing that gets cut?

If we need a little extra money to pay for something we want, is our tithe the first place we look to get it?

If we should make more money than we had thought we would – or get a financial windfall – is it tithed as a way to give praise to God for His blessing to us?

Malachi said the people in his day were robbing God.

How about us?

Are we robbing God?

How about you?

Are you robbing God?

Let’s say that you started and built a company to the point where it was very profitable. And imagine you have five kids whom you’ve provided for their whole lives. You’ve fed and clothed them, you’ve given them a college education. All five kids say,

“Mom, Dad, would you invite us into the family business? We know you’ve worked all your lives to prepare this successful company, so we’d like in.”

So you look at your adorable children and say,

“Who would I rather share my business and profits with than my kids?”

You invite all five of them into the business.

Then – 10 years later – your company is no longer profitable and will have to close it’s doors because your five kids bled cash out of your company into their personal bank accounts.

How do you feel as a mom and dad — if you’ve been robbed by your own flesh and blood?

Losing the business is a tough enough pill to swallow, but the knowledge that your own family stole from you?

When it’s family, can there be a deeper hurt?

Well — your Heavenly Father asks you to take a tenth of your earnings and offer it to Him. And if you don’t do it – you’re robbing God.

Are you robbing God?

This isn’t an impersonal accounting issue we’re talking about. We’re God’s kids. He’s our heavenly Father. All He’s ever done is give to us. Yet all He asks is for us to take a tenth out of everything He’s given and allows us to earn, and return it as a worship offering to Him on a consistent basis to honor Him and to remind ourselves that He’s got first place in our lives.

We’re God’s kids – – but are we stealing from Him by not tithing?

We’ve got to get back on the program.

We’ve got to do it God’s way, every one of us. We must do a heart check.

We can’t go through our lives robbing God.

Are you robbing God?

Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church, tells about a conversation he had with a new Christian, a business guy whom he’d helped lead to Christ some months prior to this conversation. It seemed that one day this new Christian opened his Bible to the Book of Malachi and read chapter 3. Well, he got so upset about this he called Bill and said:

“What’s the deal with this tithing thing?”

Before Bill could answer, the man started asking more questions:

“Is this for everybody?”

“Is this on the gross or the net?”

“Is this retroactive? Because if it is, we could be talking serious money.”

Money had been about the most important thing in this man’s life. His life was centered around it. His sense of power was attached to it. Control of his children was involved with it, which was not a good thing. It had always been his security. The tithing principle was upsetting to him because it was messing with what had been the true treasure of his life.

So Hybels said:

“I’m glad you ran across the tithing passage, because it is going to force you to do a heart check, a gut check, and a faith check. I know you well enough to know the grip money has had on you. We’re going to see what you’re made of now. We’re going to see what your faith is really all about. But put the tithing principle aside for a moment. Tell me again how you met Christ.:”

The man replied:

“You know how it happened. We had lunch together, and over the lunch table you drew a picture on a paper napkin, showing the difference between trying to earn your way to heaven and receiving grace through what Jesus did on the cross. You described the difference between the performance plan and the grace plan. You described the difference between doing things to earn God’s grace and mercy and depending on what Christ has already done for me on the cross. I remember after that lunch I put that napkin on my desk at work, and your words and diagram worked me over all afternoon, and I left work early. I went home, fell on my knees, and asked what Jesus Christ had done for me on the cross to be applied to the sins of my life. I discovered amazing grace that day.”

Hybels responded: “I remember that day, too, because you called me that night and told me you understood why people call grace amazing. I’ll never forget that night.”

The man assured Hybels that he would never forget it, either.

Hybels continued: “When someone lays down his life for you, when he wipes the slate clean of all your sins, when he invites you into his family, when he secures your eternity, and promises to bless your life between here and there, when he gives you his everything, and then asks you to honor and show gratitude through some practical behaviors and commitments, don’t you think your heartfelt, immediate response ought to be, ‘Yes, Lord! Whatever you want. Just say the word!?’ Tithing isn’t fundamentally about money. It’s about the condition of your heart before God.”

Hybels says he let those words hang out there on the phone line. This was serious business. This was heart stuff. Then he heard the words on the other end of the line:

“I’m so terribly sorry.”

Hybels knew the man was talking more to God than to him.

“I needed this heart check. I’m going to make it right from this day forward.”

And – Hybels says – he did.

When this man in Hybels’ story saw the tithing principle against the backdrop of the cross, he realized Christ ought to be honored no matter how much it would cost him.

When we see the principle of tithing against the backdrop of the cross, we realize that Christ ought to be honored no matter how much it costs us.

God gave his best.

We ought to at least do the minimum required of us to honor that.

If Malachi were standing here instead of me, he might say:

“How can you look at a cross, an empty tomb – and then quibble over giving 10 percent of the earnings God made possible for you to make in the first place? What’s up with you?”

Malachi would probably say:

“Some of you have heart disease. You’d better get it treated.”

The question is:

“Who is the winner in the battle for your heart?”

Do you remember what Jesus said about trying to serve God and money?

No one can serve two masters, Jesus said.

One will always win: God or money.

So the question to is:

“Who is the clear winner in the battle for your heart?”

Are you robbing God?

We need to honor God in every aspect of our lives. That includes our money management, in which we need to make a commitment to earn ethically, to spend wisely, to save, to avoid destructive debt, to give to the poor, and to tithe our earnings to the work of God.

Many of us must do a heart check, a gut check, and a faith check to start honoring God financially.

Sooner or later you have to come to a personal decision about these matters.

You’ve got to do a heart check.

This is not fundamentally about money – fundamentally about how you feel about the One who has blessed you – and even gave His life for you.

Context is everything.

When you consider making your giving decisions against the backdrop of a cross, you might give differently.

Do a gut check, a heart check, and a faith check, too.

Do a gut check.

A gut check is a character step you take in order for your heartfelt commitment to start honoring God with your money to really take effect. If you’re really going to get on board with God’s money management practices, you’re going to have to rearrange your personal money management disciplines. You’re going to have to sit down with your records and a calculator. You’re going to have to figure out how much you really earned. You’re going to have to figure out how frequently you’re paid through the different revenue streams that come your way. You’re going to have to go through all your investments and figure what you need to bring to God on a regular basis that represents the full tithe. This takes guts. This takes character. This takes discipline and attention to detail.

Do a heart check.

Check your heart for God – who has given you all you have.

Do a faith check.

Can you really trust God to bless you and provide for you if you give a real tithe to Him?

Some have developed the practice of making their tithe check to God the first check we write each pay period. Symbolically that’s significant for many of us because we’re saying: “God, you’re first place in our lives. Thank you for more earnings. Thank you for life and breath and health and energy and talent and intellect.”

Are you robbing God?

Tithing is not really about the Church – and it’s certainly not about me. This is about you. It’s about you in the shadow of a cross.

Sometimes people with little will say, “Oh, what does my $8.40 really mean?”

It means a lot to God.

If you tithe – regardless of how much your tithe is – if it is really your 10% — then it means you are not robbing God.

Are your robbing God?

This is between you and the God.

God — who has given you His best.

This is between you and God – who has blessed you with so much – your family – your food – your friends – your salvation.

Honor God with your money. Honor him in how you earn it, how you spend it, how you save it, how you avoid debt, how you’re generous with the poor, and how you bring the full tithe into his work on a regular basis.

This week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. In between the food, family, football, and whatever else you do to celebrate – stop to truly give thanks to God for His blessings in your life – take stock of what God has given you – think about how you are using His gifts to you – and think about if you are robbing God or not.

As I said at the beginning of my sermon today, stewardship is indeed more than the Capitol One Credit Card commercial asks:

What’s in your wallet?

Stewardship involves your life – it involves everything you have. While it indeed has to include what’s in your wallet, it has to be a commitment of everything you have — money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. All that we can offer has to be given to God for God’s work in the world if we are going to truly be good stewards of God’s gifts to us. It’s more than what’s in your wallet – but we can’t fool ourselves into thinking that it does not involve what’s in our wallets – and we have to look at the hard question of how we do use our money – and how our use of our money shows where our faith is and where our commitments are.

Do a gut check – a faith check – and a heart check.

Ask yourself – am I robbing God?

Does the way I use my money truly give glory and praise and honor to God?

Are you truly giving God His tithe – or are you robbing God?

Amen.

Malachi 3:8-12

Malachi 3:8-12

Are You Robbing God?

Part 2 of Hopewell Stewardship Emphasis 2006

November 19, 2006

We are moving into week 2 of our Stewardship emphasis.

Remember the joke from last week about how the minister told the congregation that he had good news and bad news – the good news being that the Church had all the money it needed to do whatever God called then to do – but the bad news being that most of the money the Church needed was in their wallets!

Also remember that I said last week that stewardship did not just involve what was in your wallets – but that it had to involve everything you have.

Stewardship has got to be more than just giving your money – although that is certainly a part of it. Stewardship has got to involve your life – what you have – what God has given you – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. Actually, our stewardship of what God has given us is our response to God – we see what God has blessed with – whether it be money – time – talents – or whatever – and we want to return a potion of it to God for His work in the world.

Stewardship is indeed more than the Capitol One Credit Card Card commercial asks:

What’s in your wallet?

Stewardship involves your life – it involves everything you have.

So – as I said last week – the theme for my stewardship sermons this year could be:

Stewardship – it’s more than what’s in your wallet!

Stewardship is seeing all God has blessed us with – — giving praise to God for all God has blessed us with – and using all God has blessed us with for His work in the world.

It’s more than what’s in your wallet – but we can’t fool ourselves into thinking that it does not involve what’s in our wallets – and we have to look at the hard question of how we do use our money – and how our use of our money shows where our faith is and where our commitments are.

Next week we are going to look at how we can use all our gifts for God – but this week we need to look more closely at how our use of our financial resources – because how we use our financial resources shows where our faith is and where our commitments are.

So — I’m going to raise a hard question today –

Are you robbing God?

Actually, this is not an original question for me – the prophet Malachi raised it centuries ago to the Israelites in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Listen to God’s word to the people of Judah – and to us – in Malachi 3:8-12.

READ SCRIPTURE

Some of you may know may have firsthand knowledge of the feeling of fear and violation that happens when you find that someone has broken into your home and stolen most of your property.

Or maybe you know someone who has experienced this.

While this has never happened to Sally and me, we have had good friends who have had this happen to them – and they say that they felt violated – and wondered :

Who would do this?

Who could be so brazenly uncaring and evil to do something like this?

Well – as brazen, uncaring, and evil as robbing things from someone else seems to be — Malachi discusses an unusual victim of thievery.

Malachi asks the question:

Who’s the last person you would expect to get robbed?

This is the question in Malachi 3:8:

“Will a person rob God?”

And Malachi says the answer is –

“Yes”

“Yes” –

Malchi says – in fact – Malachi says

“you’re robbing him.”

Then – to address the question he was sure his listeners were asking – he continues:

“You ask, ‘How do we rob God?’”

And the answer is:

“In tithes and offerings you are robbing God.”

“Bring the whole tithe into my storehouse”

Malachi says in verse 10.

Bring the whole tithe to God.

Are you robbing God?

Hundreds of years before Malachi addressed the people, God had spelled out how they ought to handle their money.

God said: Here are the guidelines:

Earn money ethically. No schemes, no corruption, no backdoor deals, no gray areas. You can earn a lot of money if you earn it ethically.

Spend money wisely, not foolishly or carelessly. Avoid destructive debt.

Save money consistently for your future.

Give money to the poor generously.

And — as a part of overall money management practices, God established the practice of tithing.

The word tithe simply means a tenth, 10 percent. The idea behind the practice was that God’s people would take 10 percent of whatever increase they experienced and they’d bring it to their worship place as a symbol of their gratefulness to God for the material blessings He had given them.

Some people followed God’s guidelines.

They managed their money and kept their finances under control. They stayed out of debt, had savings, gave to the poor, and brought the full tithe. God was honored for His graciousness – and the work of God was done in the world through the tithes the people brought.

It was a “win / win” situation. The people “won” because God blessed them when they honored Him for His gracious blessings to them. God “won” because the people realized where their material blessings had come from – and returned a portion to Him for His work in the world.

But not everybody followed God’s guidelines – and part of Malachi’s message to the people was an attempt to “reset the bar” so to speak when people were not following God’s guidelines and were making financial decisions that did not honor God.

In Malachi’s day the standard of financial excellence and God’s guidelines for handling material blessings had gone by the wayside, it seemed. In spite of being taught about how to honor God with their resources, it seemed that men and women were making financial decisions that did not honor God and that were downright stupid. They started to make their own rules for how to handle the material blessings God had given them. If you can believe it, in Malachi’s day it seemed that people were deciding to make up their own guidelines for how to handle their finances – and make up for their financial foolishness by — in some cases — not honoring God for His gifts to them by giving at least the tithes that were supposed to give to God.

Are you robbing God?

For example, someone in Malachi’s day might have gone to the local shopping market to pick up a few items for the kids or for the house — and maybe they’d get carried away with their spending. They’d overspend their budget. On the way home they’d think:

“How am I going to make my budget now?”

Then they’d think: “ I’ll just take the tithe money I was supposed to give to God and his work this week and I’ll use that to balance my budget.”

Problem solved!

Then maybe they’d think,

“I wonder what God is going to think about this? Ah, no big deal.”

Are you robbing God?

Maybe someone else would start building a new house and keep adding on the extras, until the only way they could afford it would be to take a whole year of tithe monies and use them to finish the house.

Are you robbing God?

Maybe other people would experience a financial hardship of some kind, maybe a loss of employment, and rather than draw down their savings while they were looking for a new job, they’d say:

“I’ll just stop bringing my tithe to God. He’ll understand. He’s not going to get legalistic about this.”

Are you robbing God?

I’m sure once in awhile, someone in Malachi’s day would hit the financial big time. A windfall would come their way, they’d sell a piece of land that had appreciated, or they’d have a bumper crop. They’d make a ton of money. Then when they’d figure out how much 10 percent of the windfall was going to be, they’d say:

“No way. I don’t care who’s on the throne in heaven. I am not writing a check that large and putting it in the offering plate next week. If God has a problem with that, have his people call my people. Who does he think he is?”

Are you robbing God?

In Malachi’s day the financial standards of excellence had plummeted. Most people had their own reasons for giving less than the full 10 percent of their earnings to God and to his work – and they were brazen about it. They’d say;

“Hey, what’s God going to do? ”

In comes God’s spokesperson, Malachi, who was going to “reset the bar”.

He started the discussion by saying:

“How do you folks feel about getting robbed?”

Pretty bad?

“Well, you should. It’s a terrible thing when someone robs someone. You would never rob anybody, would you? Would you ever rob your neighbor, your friend?”

And the people would respond:

“No. We would never rob anybody.”

At that point Malachi sprung the trap.

“That’s true. You probably don’t mug your neighbors and friends. But here’s the thing: if you wouldn’t mug them, why would you rob the God you say you love and serve?”

“If you have the common decency not to rob neighbors and friends, what would possess you to rob God of what he asks you to give him on a regular basis to honor him?”

“Every time you bring less than the full 10 percent of your earnings to God, you’re ripping off the one who gave his best for you. What you’re doing is unthinkable, and it’s got to stop.”

Are you robbing God?

God’s financial guidelines have not changed.

Earn money ethically. No schemes, no corruption, no backdoor deals, no gray areas. You can earn a lot of money if you earn it ethically.

Spend money wisely, not foolishly or carelessly. Avoid destructive debt.

Save money consistently for your future.

Give money to the poor generously.

And — as a part of overall money management practices, God established the practice of tithing.

So – how well do you follow these guidelines?

Like the folks in Malachi’s day, too many of us find it easy to find excuses for not tithing.

If we overspend our budget, is our tithe the first thing that gets cut?

If we need a little extra money to pay for something we want, is our tithe the first place we look to get it?

If we should make more money than we had thought we would – or get a financial windfall – is it tithed as a way to give praise to God for His blessing to us?

Malachi said the people in his day were robbing God.

How about us?

Are we robbing God?

How about you?

Are you robbing God?

Let’s say that you started and built a company to the point where it was very profitable. And imagine you have five kids whom you’ve provided for their whole lives. You’ve fed and clothed them, you’ve given them a college education. All five kids say,

“Mom, Dad, would you invite us into the family business? We know you’ve worked all your lives to prepare this successful company, so we’d like in.”

So you look at your adorable children and say,

“Who would I rather share my business and profits with than my kids?”

You invite all five of them into the business.

Then – 10 years later – your company is no longer profitable and will have to close it’s doors because your five kids bled cash out of your company into their personal bank accounts.

How do you feel as a mom and dad — if you’ve been robbed by your own flesh and blood?

Losing the business is a tough enough pill to swallow, but the knowledge that your own family stole from you?

When it’s family, can there be a deeper hurt?

Well — your Heavenly Father asks you to take a tenth of your earnings and offer it to Him. And if you don’t do it – you’re robbing God.

Are you robbing God?

This isn’t an impersonal accounting issue we’re talking about. We’re God’s kids. He’s our heavenly Father. All He’s ever done is give to us. Yet all He asks is for us to take a tenth out of everything He’s given and allows us to earn, and return it as a worship offering to Him on a consistent basis to honor Him and to remind ourselves that He’s got first place in our lives.

We’re God’s kids – – but are we stealing from Him by not tithing?

We’ve got to get back on the program.

We’ve got to do it God’s way, every one of us. We must do a heart check.

We can’t go through our lives robbing God.

Are you robbing God?

Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church, tells about a conversation he had with a new Christian, a business guy whom he’d helped lead to Christ some months prior to this conversation. It seemed that one day this new Christian opened his Bible to the Book of Malachi and read chapter 3. Well, he got so upset about this he called Bill and said:

“What’s the deal with this tithing thing?”

Before Bill could answer, the man started asking more questions:

“Is this for everybody?”

“Is this on the gross or the net?”

“Is this retroactive? Because if it is, we could be talking serious money.”

Money had been about the most important thing in this man’s life. His life was centered around it. His sense of power was attached to it. Control of his children was involved with it, which was not a good thing. It had always been his security. The tithing principle was upsetting to him because it was messing with what had been the true treasure of his life.

So Hybels said:

“I’m glad you ran across the tithing passage, because it is going to force you to do a heart check, a gut check, and a faith check. I know you well enough to know the grip money has had on you. We’re going to see what you’re made of now. We’re going to see what your faith is really all about. But put the tithing principle aside for a moment. Tell me again how you met Christ.:”

The man replied:

“You know how it happened. We had lunch together, and over the lunch table you drew a picture on a paper napkin, showing the difference between trying to earn your way to heaven and receiving grace through what Jesus did on the cross. You described the difference between the performance plan and the grace plan. You described the difference between doing things to earn God’s grace and mercy and depending on what Christ has already done for me on the cross. I remember after that lunch I put that napkin on my desk at work, and your words and diagram worked me over all afternoon, and I left work early. I went home, fell on my knees, and asked what Jesus Christ had done for me on the cross to be applied to the sins of my life. I discovered amazing grace that day.”

Hybels responded: “I remember that day, too, because you called me that night and told me you understood why people call grace amazing. I’ll never forget that night.”

The man assured Hybels that he would never forget it, either.

Hybels continued: “When someone lays down his life for you, when he wipes the slate clean of all your sins, when he invites you into his family, when he secures your eternity, and promises to bless your life between here and there, when he gives you his everything, and then asks you to honor and show gratitude through some practical behaviors and commitments, don’t you think your heartfelt, immediate response ought to be, ‘Yes, Lord! Whatever you want. Just say the word!?’ Tithing isn’t fundamentally about money. It’s about the condition of your heart before God.”

Hybels says he let those words hang out there on the phone line. This was serious business. This was heart stuff. Then he heard the words on the other end of the line:

“I’m so terribly sorry.”

Hybels knew the man was talking more to God than to him.

“I needed this heart check. I’m going to make it right from this day forward.”

And – Hybels says – he did.

When this man in Hybels’ story saw the tithing principle against the backdrop of the cross, he realized Christ ought to be honored no matter how much it would cost him.

When we see the principle of tithing against the backdrop of the cross, we realize that Christ ought to be honored no matter how much it costs us.

God gave his best.

We ought to at least do the minimum required of us to honor that.

If Malachi were standing here instead of me, he might say:

“How can you look at a cross, an empty tomb – and then quibble over giving 10 percent of the earnings God made possible for you to make in the first place? What’s up with you?”

Malachi would probably say:

“Some of you have heart disease. You’d better get it treated.”

The question is:

“Who is the winner in the battle for your heart?”

Do you remember what Jesus said about trying to serve God and money?

No one can serve two masters, Jesus said.

One will always win: God or money.

So the question to is:

“Who is the clear winner in the battle for your heart?”

Are you robbing God?

We need to honor God in every aspect of our lives. That includes our money management, in which we need to make a commitment to earn ethically, to spend wisely, to save, to avoid destructive debt, to give to the poor, and to tithe our earnings to the work of God.

Many of us must do a heart check, a gut check, and a faith check to start honoring God financially.

Sooner or later you have to come to a personal decision about these matters.

You’ve got to do a heart check.

This is not fundamentally about money – fundamentally about how you feel about the One who has blessed you – and even gave His life for you.

Context is everything.

When you consider making your giving decisions against the backdrop of a cross, you might give differently.

Do a gut check, a heart check, and a faith check, too.

Do a gut check.

A gut check is a character step you take in order for your heartfelt commitment to start honoring God with your money to really take effect. If you’re really going to get on board with God’s money management practices, you’re going to have to rearrange your personal money management disciplines. You’re going to have to sit down with your records and a calculator. You’re going to have to figure out how much you really earned. You’re going to have to figure out how frequently you’re paid through the different revenue streams that come your way. You’re going to have to go through all your investments and figure what you need to bring to God on a regular basis that represents the full tithe. This takes guts. This takes character. This takes discipline and attention to detail.

Do a heart check.

Check your heart for God – who has given you all you have.

Do a faith check.

Can you really trust God to bless you and provide for you if you give a real tithe to Him?

Some have developed the practice of making their tithe check to God the first check we write each pay period. Symbolically that’s significant for many of us because we’re saying: “God, you’re first place in our lives. Thank you for more earnings. Thank you for life and breath and health and energy and talent and intellect.”

Are you robbing God?

Tithing is not really about the Church – and it’s certainly not about me. This is about you. It’s about you in the shadow of a cross.

Sometimes people with little will say, “Oh, what does my $8.40 really mean?”

It means a lot to God.

If you tithe – regardless of how much your tithe is – if it is really your 10% — then it means you are not robbing God.

Are your robbing God?

This is between you and the God.

God — who has given you His best.

This is between you and God – who has blessed you with so much – your family – your food – your friends – your salvation.

Honor God with your money. Honor him in how you earn it, how you spend it, how you save it, how you avoid debt, how you’re generous with the poor, and how you bring the full tithe into his work on a regular basis.

This week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. In between the food, family, football, and whatever else you do to celebrate – stop to truly give thanks to God for His blessings in your life – take stock of what God has given you – think about how you are using His gifts to you – and think about if you are robbing God or not.

As I said at the beginning of my sermon today, stewardship is indeed more than the Capitol One Credit Card commercial asks:

What’s in your wallet?

Stewardship involves your life – it involves everything you have. While it indeed has to include what’s in your wallet, it has to be a commitment of everything you have — money – time – talents – or whatever God has blessed you with. All that we can offer has to be given to God for God’s work in the world if we are going to truly be good stewards of God’s gifts to us. It’s more than what’s in your wallet – but we can’t fool ourselves into thinking that it does not involve what’s in our wallets – and we have to look at the hard question of how we do use our money – and how our use of our money shows where our faith is and where our commitments are.

Do a gut check – a faith check – and a heart check.

Ask yourself – am I robbing God?

Does the way I use my money truly give glory and praise and honor to God?

Are you truly giving God His tithe – or are you robbing God?

Amen.