Malachi, Part 1

On Malachi

You know, I really get tired of pastors beating people up over Malachi 3 and their tithes. Do we need to pay tithes? Absolutely. People will say, "Well, that’s Old Testament." Yes, it is, but tithing was established well before the Mosaic laws of Leviticus. It began when Abraham gave his tithes to the King of Salem, or Shalom (the King of Peace, or Prince Melchizedek). The Word says he had no origin or end—sounds familiar, doesn’t it? But it’s New Testament as well if you read Hebrews about it. Paul wrote about tithing, and Jesus spoke more about money than He did about Heaven or Hell. But in all my studies, Malachi is about much more than just tithes!

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. Yet you say, "Wherein have you loved us?" God’s reply was, “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother? Yet I loved Jacob and I hated Esau. I turned my back on Esau and made his lands desolate” (paraphrasing just a little).

A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master. If I’m your father, where is my honor? Or if I’m your master, where is your fear of me?

The priests despise My name! You ask, "Wherein do we despise Your name?" You offer polluted offerings on My altar. "Wherein have we polluted You?" In that you say the table of the Lord is contemptible. If you were to offer up blind or diseased offerings, the Lord goes on to say, "Why don’t you take what you’re offering Me to your governor or president?" (in modern-day terms). Can you imagine us taking the thoughtless offerings we try to give to God to our governor or president? You wouldn’t go before the President with poor hygiene. You’d brush your teeth, wear your best, and put on some cologne. But we jump up on Sunday mornings, running behind, and without hesitation try to enter into the presence of God in an unkempt state. “Oh, He will not mind; He’s gracious and merciful.” Yes, He is—thank you, Daddy.

Because of this, God is showing the lost and undone His glory and mercy.

“My name shall be great among the heathen” (I truly believe, more times than not, that sinners fear and revere God more than those who claim to be His). But you profane My name. You say My table is polluted, and My meat offering is contemptible. You say it is wearisome to serve Me. You bring Me torn and lame offerings—offerings you wouldn’t even eat yourselves—but you expect Me to receive them and bless them. You shall be cursed because you promise Me one thing and then give Me something else. I Am a great King, and I’m more honored by nonbelievers.

This is all just in chapter one! What does it sound like? We have become complacent in the things of God. We keep the best for ourselves or give those here on Earth the things we should have promised to give to the Lord. We give Him the leftovers.

So right off the bat, Malachi, through the unction of the Spirit, begins to reveal to us our heart posture toward God. Where is your heart today? Are you purposing in your heart what to give? The Word says to give what we have purposed to give. So, see, Malachi started in chapter one, not chapter three, addressing our heart attitude towards giving—but it’s much more than that.

He is dealing with our attitude and respect toward the way we approach God, period—from profaning His name all the way to the way we offer things to Him.

If this pricked your heart in any way, GOOD! That is exactly what it’s supposed to do. Even when I just came through major surgery, I had to wear clothes I was completely uncomfortable in to church. I continually apologized to my pastor and leadership team for my appearance. I was embarrassed. But it is because I desire to give God all of me, the best of who I am.

If you find yourself mad at this post or can see where you have been guilty, there is room beside me at the altar of prayer, as Pastor Tommy Evans would say. I love you, Pastor. I want to give honor to my Bishop Garvin Floyd for trusting in me. I love you, Bishop. I give honor to all the pastors that have friended me here. You hold special meaning in my heart. I give the most honor to God, who sent His Son to be the propitiation for my sin. I love you, Daddy.

Follow along in Malachi