Honesty Toward God

Malachi 3:7-18

GOLDEN TEXT: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to contain it.”—Malachi 3:10

MALACHI’S is the last of the accepted prophecies of Israel; it relates particularly to the service and worship of God after the return of the Hebrews from their captivity in Babylon; it exhorts to devotion and faithfulness, and warns of the coming of the Messenger of the Covenant to His temple. It indicates that His coming will accomplish a judgment work among His professed people, the acceptance and association with Himself of the faithful and the rejection of the unfaithful and disobedient. It prophetically states that after the faithful are associated with the Lord as His “jewels,” they will engage in a future work among men—a judgment work, “discerning between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not”—these things give to the prophecy of Malachi a special interest for the Lord’s people living at the end of the Gospel age.

Spiritual Israel, the Elijah class, the Lord’s consecrated people still in the flesh and seeking to make their calling and election sure to the Kingdom glories, may gain a profitable lesson from the sharp criticisms of natural Israel recorded in our lesson. How is it with us? We, as spiritual Israelites, have vowed unto the Lord the first fruits, the very best, the chiefest, the most valuable of all that we have and all that we are—of time, influence, talents, money, all. To what extent are we rendering unto the Lord our offerings and sacrifices in harmony with this our Covenant?

Is it not true respecting many spiritual Israelites, that, instead of bringing the very best they have to the Lord and to His service, they bring Him merely the tail-ends, the poorer things, offerings with which He cannot be well pleased? This is what we are doing if we use the best we have for self-gratification, in providing chiefly the best for our own natural appetites, honors, dignities, leaving for the Lord the remnants, the fag ends of time, influence reputation and money.

The argument which the Lord used to natural Israel was that, if they properly loved and respected Him as their God, they would feel that they had nothing too good to offer to Him and His service, and that it was a privilege on their part to be permitted to lay their tithes at His feet, the very best that they had or could present. How much more true is this in respect to spiritual Israel.

The Lord’s words to natural Israel should come to spiritual Israel with still greater force, “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord.” If any feel themselves poor, if any feel that spiritually they are lean, that they are not enjoying such fellowship with the Lord as they would desire, that they are unable to draw closely to Him as they would like, to all such the Lord says the fault is, You have neglected your Covenant, here are My words, “Prove Me,” fulfill the terms of your Covenant, and see if I will not be faithful, and do for you exceedingly and abundantly more than you could have asked or thought.

Of the Jews the Lord required a tenth, a “tithe.” Of the spiritual Israelites He makes no percentage requirements but leaves it for us, that we sacrifice according to that which we have received and thus we may demonstrate the measure of our love. But who would say that one-tenth of time, influence and talent would be enough for the spiritual Israelite to render to the Lord for all His benefits? All should feel that the sacrifice is a whole burnt offering, a complete sacrifice of all our talents and powers and privileges. Should not the consecrated use upon himself and for those dependent upon him only such things as would seem to be necessary to decency and reasonable comfort. Those who accept the Lord’s proposition heartily, and render to Him their all to the extent of their ability, will find their leanness departing and their joy of heart increasing more and more.

This faithful class who reverence the Lord, speak often one another; they love to encourage and build one another up; they love to tell of the Lord’s goodness and of His truth wherever they can find a hearing ear. Of such it is said, “The Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that reverenced the Lord and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels.”

QUESTIONS:

In what manner can spiritual Israelites “bring all the tithes into the storehouse”?

Is the Lord pleased when we bring to Him merely that which is left over of our time, talents and substance, after having used the best for ourselves?

How can we today “prove” the Lord?

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