The devotional booklet that our church uses has been dealing lately with the Old Testament book of Malachi. It has been an interesting and timely series as Israel’s attitudes and actions in that day so very well parallel so many church members today. The main thrust of God’s contention with Israel was the fact that what they offered was what was left over. They offered the lame and blind for sacrifice, they gave what was left after they had pleased themselves. The commandment to bring all the tithes into the storehouse ( Malachi 3:10) was not a plea for money because God was running short; it was a reminder that the tithe was to come first. Paul instructed the Corinthians “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him”. The idea is that what is God’s should be first priority; take it out and separate it as something that is not to be touched and used for worldly purposes. How many do this last, saying in essence, “Lord if their is anything left, I’ll give it to you”. How often do we do this with time and talent? Notice God did not start with money, He actually started with reverence. He began by saying a son honors his father and if that be so where is His honor? This is the heart of the matter. Paul pointed this out to the Corinthian believers when he used the example of the churches of Macedonia as an example of giving. He says in 2 Corinthians 8:5 that the Macedonian churches first gave themselves to the Lord, their treasures simply followed where their heart was. Is this not what Jesus said ” For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”, Matt. 6:21. I am afraid for so many of us who claim to be followers of Christ that our treasure is ourselves, therefore our heart is there and so is our money and our talents. Every decision is based upon our convience. What happened to the days when family and friends new what time church started and that if they wanted to visit on Sunday they did so between church times, not during it. What happened to folks who like the couple who were ready to call it a night told their guest, “y’all stay and visit as long as you like, we are going to bed”. Now days we come to church if we can’t find some reason to keep us out.
I know I have spent a long time being negative, but I do not want to end on that note. The good news is that the same God who chided Isreal over their deplorable state also offered them hope. If only they would amend their ways God would restore them to their former glory. Truly if He offered such a thing to Israel, He will do the same for you and I who have trusted His Son as saviour. The receiving of the promised blessing however, depends on an honest examination of the facts. It is easy to admit we have not been what we need to be, but not so easy to mean it. Too often after we admit it we still justify it in our mind and keep on the same path. This type of reasoning will never do, for leaves God as a God of the leftovers. God is worthy of more honor than that, even if you are not a Christian; how much more if redeemed by His son’s precious blood! The question remains what are we going to do about it? I don’t mean to leave on a negative note, but I do need to leave on a serious one. Is your God only a God worthy of leftovers?