Giving God Your Best

Introduction:

You hear a lot about giving your best; giving your best on your job, in school, on the athletic field.  Did you know that God wants your best in worship?  He’s always wanted His people to give their best.  They haven’t always done it, though.

Text:  Malachi 1:6-14

Body:

I.  The Text

Verse 6: 

Jehovah is speaking to the priests of Israel.  Today, all Christians are priests.  (I Peter 2:9)  They didn’t value God’s name.  They had a lack of respect for Him and His Word.  We should have the attitude of the Psalmist as expressed in Psalm 34:3.  They despised His name by not obeying His Word.  They didn’t love God as they claimed; but they were cold and insensitive.  (Luke 6:46)  Giving God our best means to respect His Word and esteem it highly.  Note the attitude seen in I Thessalonians 2:13.

Verses 7-9:  They did make an offering; but it wasn’t their best.  They did the least they could, the minimum.  They knew what God expected.  (Deuteronomy 15:21) 

When you give God your scraps, you are despising Him.  You are showing how little respect you have for Him.  Does God get our leftovers in time, money, passion, enthusiasm, talent, abilities . . .? 

If our worship time is minimal, aren’t we dishonoring God?  Aren’t we doing what we want, instead of what God wants us to do? 

We are priests.  (Revelation 1:6)  We have an exalted role.  We need to fulfill our commitment.

Verses 10-11: 

God told them it would be better to close the temple doors than to continue the hypocrisy.  Listen to the words of Isaiah.  (Isaiah 1:11-15)  Jeremiah said something similar to the people of his day.  (Jeremiah 6:19-20)

Verses 12-14: 

The people were not concerned that their worship was defiled and polluted.  By not giving God their best, they were abusing His altar and showing a lack of respect.  Worship was a wariness to them.  It was a burden to be suffered through.  Note Isaiah 43:22-24.

They were giving God what practically cost nothing.  They sacrificed the lame and sick.  God is a Great King, the Lord of Hosts, and He deserves respect.  Hallmark Cards’ motto is:  “When you care to give the very best” God doesn’t accept excuses or shoddy work!

II.  The Application

God wants our very best in worship.  Here are a few suggestions that  I have found to be very useful.

1.  Center your worship on Jehovah.  (Psalm 95:1-7)

2.  Put your “all” into it.  Give God your everything.  Don’t be a spectator.  Others can’t worship for you.  God seeks “worshippers.”  (John 4:23-24)

3. Be on time and bring your Bible.  Listen carefully to the words of the songs, the prayers, and the sermon.

4. Remember that worship is a privilege and a blessing.

Conclusion:

Listen to the following words in Hebrews 12:28-29.  “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.”

Bobby Stafford    

September 1, 2013