"WHEREIN HAVE WE ROBBED THEE?” (Mal. 3:8-10)
Jan 4th, 2004
Int. How would you like to receive a blessing so large that you could hardly contain it?
1. The indisputable promise of God is found in (vr. 10)
2. God calls upon his people to put Him to the test in (Vr. 10)
a. Hudson Taylor said: "I never made a sacrifice to God, for to give to Him is to gain."
3. B. H. Carroll said that at the close of the War Between the States, though crippled with wounds, and bankrupt, I voluntarily assumed an ante-bellium debt of $4.000, not legally my own, and had finally paid all by selling everything I had but wife and baby, and was moving to a church on the promise of $500.00 a year. I said, "Now wife, here is a time to settle our financial relation to God. We haven't got a thing, and we are sure to fail if He is not honored by us, and if He is honored we will succeed. Let us enter into a covenant right here that whatever happens we will give God one-tenth of every cent that we ever make." We did from that time on. I have long since passed that limit. For many years I have been giving one-fifth, and some years two-fifths.
4. I preached on this text five nights in a row at Neuse Baptist in Raleigh, N. C. years ago and on Friday night one member came up and gave $1000.00 back tithe.
I. NOTICE THE ASTONISHING QUESTION.. (VR. 8) "Will a man rob God?"
Int. Lev. "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."
1. Is it possible that a man would attempt to rob God?
Ill. John Trapp tells about “ A fable about the eagle that stole a piece of flesh from the altar, and carried it together with a live coal, that stuck to it, to her nest, and set her young and all on a light of fire.”
a. . Belshazzar stole the golden vessels from God and paid a dear price.
b. (Prov 20:25) "It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry."
2. He seemed to have the money
To buy a new TV,
And tho' it cost him plenty,
He vacationed by the sea.
But when they took an off'ring,
A special for the Lord,
He only gave a dollar,
'Twas all he could afford.
He had a good position,
The kind for which you seek,
A job that paid him more than
Three hundred every week.
The church suggesting tithing--
A tenth unto the Lord--
But still he gave his dollar,
'Twas all he could afford.
We wouldn't rob our neighbor,
It's wrong by our belief,
Yet we withhold God's money--
Are we not then, a thief?
To spend our tens and twenties
For what brings us delight,
Then give the Lord a dollar,
It simply isn't right.
A. FIRST, SUCH ACTION IS UNNATURAL. (That is, to rob God)
1. It is illogical and self-condemning.
Ill. Pastor Samuel Chadwick said: "No man can rob God without starving his own soul."
Note: "If in the days of Malachi, not to pay the tithe was counted robbery, can a Christian who witholds the tenth, be counted now, any more now than then, honest towards God?"
2. Even the Idolaters did not rob their idols. (Ezek 16:16) "And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot there upon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so."
3. (Exo 32:3) "And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron."
4. They even sacrificed their children to Moloch or Saturn. (2 Kings 16:3)
5. Ananias and Sapphira held back a portion of what was dedicated to God, and paid the supreme price. (Acts 5:)
6. John Trapp quotes our text and says: “Ye have robbed Me, because ye have robbed my ministers, who are in My stead. (2 Cor. 5:20)
a. Of whom it is witnessed that He liveth, like as did Melchisedec, as a priest and tithe receiver, and type of Christ. (Heb.7:7-9)
7. God’s ministers are worthy of double honour and some churches muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.”
a. (1 Cor 9:9) "For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?"
8. Paul uses this verse to illustrate that ministers are to be cared for financially.
a. (1 Tim 5:18) "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward."
b. (Deu 12:19) "Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth."
c. (Neh 13:10) "And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field."
d. (2 Chr 31:4) "Moreover he (Hezekiah) commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD." (That is, follow their calling instead of working all day).
B. TO ROB GOD IS VERY BRAZEN INDEED!
1. Would a man attempt to rob a person greater than himself in the open daylight?
2. Matthew Henry said: "Robbing God is such a heinous crime, that those guilty will never admit guilt.
a. They ask the question: "Wherein HAVE WE ROBBED THEE?"
C. IT IS SHAMEFULLY UNGRATEFUL.
1. Will a son rob his own father?
2. Some of you are robbing your heavenly Father this every week.
D. IT IS UNDENIABLY INJURIOUS
1. To rob one's self of means is to rob self of God.
2. God says in essence, you hold out on me and I will hold out on you.
a. Our high tax rate today is one of the curses on this nation for Robbing God.
Ill. Pastor Slim Young said: "All my members tithe."
1. Some to the Dentist.
2. Some to the Doctor.
3. Some to the Mechanic.
4. Some to the bank.
5. But all of them tithe.
E. IT IS UNTHINKABLE HOW SOME PEOPLE GIVE TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
1. These people in Malachi's day were guilty of two things:
a. Some brought less than the tithe.
b. Some brought the lame and worthless for sacrifice.
c. In other words, they brought a substitute for their tithe.
F. IT IS INESCAPABLY PUNISHABLE.
1. " YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE." (Vr. 9)
2. It was so in Haggai's day. (Hag 1:10) "Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit."
3. SOME OF YOU MAY SAY: "Well I AM DOING WELL."
a. My reply is, "LIFE ISN'T OVER YET."
G. THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT BEGINS TO TITHE FAITHFULLY WILL DISCOVER AT LEAST SIX SURPRISES.
1. At the amount of money he has for the Lord's Work.
2. At the deepening of his spiritual life in paying the tithe.
3.
3. At the ease in meeting his own obligations with the nine-tenths.
4. At the ease in going from one tenth to larger giving.
5. At the preparation this gives to be a faithful wise steward over the nine-tenths that remain
.
6. At himself in not adopting the plan sooner.
II. SECOND, NOTICE SOME WAYS IN WHICH MEN ROB GOD.
A. MEN ROB GOD OF TRUE WORSHIP. (Jn. 4:24)
1. We take for granted the blessings of God.
2. We go through the form but no heart-felt obedience. (Form but deny the power thereof.)
B. SOME CALL JESUS LORD AND THEN DENY HIS LORDSHIP OVER THEIR TITHE.
1. MANY SAY: "NOT MY MONEY----- NOT MY SUNDAY NIGHTS----- NOT MY WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
C. WE GIVE GOD LESS THAN WE GIVE THE WAITRESS AT THE RESTAURANT.
Ill. John Rushdoony said: "The storehouse Malachi spoke of was literally that: a physical storage-house which was the Lord's and belonged to that religious tradition of Levites who; instead of being apostate...were faithful to God..."
1. The tither was not tithing if his tithe went to a faithless storehouse; it was his duty to judge then between godly and ungodly Levites."
III. CONSIDER HOW GOD OPENS THE FLOOD GATES OF HEAVEN. (Vr. 7)
Note: We should begin by repenting of our thievery.
A. WE SHOULD FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF SHAME.
Ill. Martin Luther said: “If the ministers be put to live upon the free contribution of the people, they would certainly have a miserable hard living of it.”
Ill. It is said of Augustine that lived neither like a lord, for he ate his meat in wooden and marble dishes; neither lived he like a beggar, for he used to eat with silver spoons.”
Ill. Calvin was so ill dealt with at Geneva (together with many other ministers) that he was forced once to say, “Truly if I had served men in my ministry I had been very ill requited. But is well that I have served Him who never fails his; but faithfully performeth with the better whatsoever he hath promised them.”
B. UNDER THE LAW, THEY MADE RESTITUTION.
1. (Lev 27:31) "And if a man will at all redeem (hold back) ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof."
2. Notice Elijah's instructions to the Widow. (I Kings 17:13) "And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou has said: But MAKE ME THEREOF A LITTLE CAKE FIRST, AND BRING IT UNTO ME, AND AFTER MAKE FOR THEE AND FOR THY SON." (look up and read (Vr. 9-14)
3. Jamerson, Fossett & Brown Commentary says: All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land—This law gave the sanction of divine authority to an ancient usage (Gen. 14:20; 28:22).
4. “The whole produce of the land was subjected to the tithe tribute—it was a yearly rent which the Israelites, as tenants, paid to God, the owner of the land, and a thank offering they rendered to him for the bounties of his providence (see Prov. 3:9; 1 Cor. 9:11; Gal. 6:6)."
a. (Prov 3:9) "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:"
b. (1 Cor 9:11) "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"
c. (Gal 6:6) "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."
4. In the days of Hezekiah one of the first results of the revival of religion was the eagerness with which the people brought in their tithes
a. (2 Chr 31:5-6) "And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. {6} And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps."
5. The neglect of this duty was sternly rebuked by the prophets
a. (Amos 4:4) "Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:"
6. The principle of this law remains, and is incorporated in the gospel.
a. (1 Cor 9:13-14) "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? {14} Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."
C. UNDER THE LAW, THEY WERE CURSED FOR ROBBING GOD.
1. (Deu 28:23) "And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron."
2. Just how severe was this curse? (Neh 5:1-5) "And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. {2} For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. {3} Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. {4} There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. {5} Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards."
Ill. John Trapp quaintly says: ”A just hand of God is upon all church robbers, for most part they are always in want and needy, their wealth melting away as snow before the sun,...”
3. Remember when Pharoah said, “The river is mine!” God turned it to blood.
a. (Ezek 29:3,9 "Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself."
"And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it."
Conclusion: What is tithing?
1. Mathematically, it is a tenth.
a. (Gen 28:22) "And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
2. Scripturally it is a law.
a. (Deu 14:22) "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year."
3. Morally it is a debt.
a. (Mal 3:8) "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
4. Economically it is an investment.
a. (Mat 6:20) "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:"
5. Spiritually it is a blessing.
a. (Mal 3:10) "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 receive it."
b. The lxx reads: "TITHES": (Mal 3:10) "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, (Lxx. Flood gates ) and pour you out a blessing, (Heb. Blessing Enough) that there shall not be room (Barnes enough ) enough to receive it."
c. The (Lxx was the Greek Translation of the O. T. that was done in 400 B. C. and was used by Christ Himself.)
d. The preacher that doesn’t tithe should not be allowed to preach.
e. The teacher or church worker that will not tithe should not be allowed to teach or serve.
6. SOME CLOSING PROMISES. “Prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord.”
A. NOTICE HOW GOD BENDS OVER TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE.
1. Psalms 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”
2. (Isa 7:12-13) "But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. {13} And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?"
Conclusion: God carries the keys of the grave, of the heart, and of the windows of heaven, the clouds, under His own girdle.