ARE YOU INSULTING GOD? (2 OF 7)
by Jeff Schreve
Scripture: Malachi 1:6-14
This content is part of a series.
Are You Insulting God? (2 of 7)
Return to Me
Jeff Schreve
Malachi 1:6-14
Three liberal pastors had gotten together for lunch, and they were talking about giving and how they financially gave to the Lord. One pastor said, "Well, this is how I do it. I get paid every week. When I get paid, I take my paycheck and I cash it and I get it in $20.00 bills. I draw a circle on the ground and I throw the money up in the air. And then, whatever lands in the circle, that's what I give to God." Second pastor said, "Hmm, that's interesting. Here's what I do. When I get paid, I cash my check and get it in $20's. I draw a circle on the ground. I throw my money up in the air. And whatever is outside the circle, that's what I give to God." Third pastor listened, and he said, "Ah, that's interesting. I don't understand you guys and all this circle stuff." He said, "This is what I do." He said, "I get paid, I cash my check, and I get it in $20's. And I throw it up in the air, and I say, "God, whatever You want, You can have before it hits the ground." Did you know that little story really typifies what was going on in Israel at the time of Malachi, around 430 B.C. The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and thus was God's last word to a generation. There was no word from God after Malachi for 400 plus years until we come to the time of John the Baptist. And in the Book of Malachi, we've entitled this series, Return to Me, because that's God's message to His people. They had gotten so far away from Him, and God says, "Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts." The people were coming to worship, but they were just going through the motions of worship, and they were giving God what God hated. They were giving Him not even second-rate worship. It was probably fourth-rate worship. Going through the motions and just slopping it out there, and said, "God, You should be so pleased with me." Well, the LORD wasn't pleased at all. ...
Return to Me
Jeff Schreve
Malachi 1:6-14
Three liberal pastors had gotten together for lunch, and they were talking about giving and how they financially gave to the Lord. One pastor said, "Well, this is how I do it. I get paid every week. When I get paid, I take my paycheck and I cash it and I get it in $20.00 bills. I draw a circle on the ground and I throw the money up in the air. And then, whatever lands in the circle, that's what I give to God." Second pastor said, "Hmm, that's interesting. Here's what I do. When I get paid, I cash my check and get it in $20's. I draw a circle on the ground. I throw my money up in the air. And whatever is outside the circle, that's what I give to God." Third pastor listened, and he said, "Ah, that's interesting. I don't understand you guys and all this circle stuff." He said, "This is what I do." He said, "I get paid, I cash my check, and I get it in $20's. And I throw it up in the air, and I say, "God, whatever You want, You can have before it hits the ground." Did you know that little story really typifies what was going on in Israel at the time of Malachi, around 430 B.C. The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and thus was God's last word to a generation. There was no word from God after Malachi for 400 plus years until we come to the time of John the Baptist. And in the Book of Malachi, we've entitled this series, Return to Me, because that's God's message to His people. They had gotten so far away from Him, and God says, "Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts." The people were coming to worship, but they were just going through the motions of worship, and they were giving God what God hated. They were giving Him not even second-rate worship. It was probably fourth-rate worship. Going through the motions and just slopping it out there, and said, "God, You should be so pleased with me." Well, the LORD wasn't pleased at all. ...
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