LifeWay Bible Studies for Life Series for June 17: How do you treat God?

Most of us have witnessed a situation where children were being disobedient to their parents. In some cases, the disrespect demonstrated by the children to their parents was so out of bounds you may even have been tempted to intervene.

This particularly becomes the case when children start telling parents they are not going to do what they were told to do and state what they are going to do instead. I don’t know how you respond in that scenario, but I know I want to scream, “Stop it!”

Moving out of that volatile moment and settling into a more reflective posture, I begin to see a real similarity to the disrespect shown by children to their parents and our own disrespect we often show to God. I begin to expect a shout from God that sounds a great deal like “Stop it!”

In Malachi 2:17-3:5, God essentially speaks through his prophet to say he has grown tired of their changing his instructions to them. The people of Judah had so altered God’s plan for the way they should live, they now were saying evil was good. Where God had given them strict instructions against witchcraft, sexual sin, lying, mistreating widows and orphans, cheating and withholding justice, the people had adopted a lifestyle that accepted all of these things. God states that because of this, he will come in judgment upon them.

Malachi once again hits very close to our day and behaviors. We, too, have altered many of God’s expectations for us and substituted our own standards. Part of the current debate in our own nation is centered on civil rights versus biblical instruction. Where will believers stand in this? Will the laws of our nation be seen as more important and of greater value than the laws of God? This is not just an issue of 2012 since we have just seen some of the same issues arising in the days of Malachi.

For thought: As you compare Scripture with our modern culture, list the alterations believers have made to their acceptable practice in contrast to what Scripture commands. Do you agree with those who say the old is out of date and one must get with the times? Or do you believe we are moving so far from God’s commands that judgment is coming soon?

God clearly pointed out to the Jews in Malachi 3:6-7 that he had turned away from the people. The people’s argument had been, as it always is, that God has pulled away, turned his back or deserted them. The Lord said he had not changed. His law was still intact. He had neither negated it nor altered it. The expectation still was that the people would obey God’s law.

God even offered them forgiveness and restoration if they would repent of their sin. God’s love for all he has created and given his Son for never wavers. The sin of people pushes them away from God but not so far that they cannot be reclaimed. Both the Jews of Malachi’s day and all of us constantly need to be reminded that God’s forgiveness remains available to those who confess and repent of their sin expressing their faith through Jesus Christ.

For thought: Apathy has a way of infecting parts of our lives in a progressive manner. Much of your relationship with God may be seemingly strong and healthy today. But there may be other aspects of your walk with him that have become lethargic and your apathy is growing. Can you identify those infected areas right now? If so, now is a good time to confess and repent of the sin that has moved you away from a healthy relationship with the Living God.

For many people, the only portion of Malachi’s writings with which they are familiar is Malachi 3:8-12. This portion of Malachi deals specifically with man’s giving of the tithe and offerings in worship to the Lord. Many people find lessons and sermons on tithing or giving to be offensive to them because of their lack of obedience in this area. Malachi goes so far as to say that withholding one’s tithe from God is the same as robbing God.

Whenever tithing becomes the topic of discussion, certain questions always surface. To try to answer some of those in light of the words of Malachi, here is my personal understanding of tithes and offerings. I believe as a follower of Christ, I am to give 10 percent of my total income (before taxes) to the Lord’s work. I specifically believe that is through the church where I am a member. Any special requests for money—missions, love offerings, benevolence—are offerings and are above my tithe. Any support I need to give to help a member of my family also is above my tithe.

I do not believe that God is going to give me extra money because I am faithful in giving. Rather, I believe he already has blessed me with all the resources he has entrusted to me, and he expects me to be a faithful steward of them to his glory. The standard of living I have chosen for myself never can be an excuse for not tithing.

For thought: Part of the way you treat God is reflected directly in how you give.