Stealing from God

Malachi 3: 6-18

The Reformer's Fire
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Exposition by Max A Forsythe

Question 75:
What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
Answer 75:
The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own or our neighbor's wealth or outward estate.

In the Larger Catechism, the first phrase outlines our theme for today.

"The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are"

Only seven little words - "besides the neglect of the duties required" and what a world of separation there is between the elect and the condemned in those words. What duties may we assume are required here in the context of the eighth commandment?

Certainly, in our understanding of the eighth commandment, the idea of robbing God seems foremost in the Scripture portion from the Prophet Malchi today. Yes, but robbery must come after the duties that are neglected! A close reading of our passage will show us the duties required before we consider the outward estate. Quite simply the affairs of the heart in question here are the vital and necessary duties of: repentance, reverence and remberance.

Repentance is rarely an easy thing, and is especially a difficult thing for proud people. In this section of Malachi we find the prophet seeking to motivate proud, cynical, self-righteous Judah to repent and return to the Lord. Earlier in Malachi's revelation, he warned the nation that God would come in judgment. But even so God would prefer that the nation would come back to Him instead. The Lord still longs to bless the nation, and if only they would repent of their ways, if only they would truly return to Him, he would not come in judgment. He would come, instead in marvelous blessing! In the rest of this section the Lord provides powerful arguments with the loving intention of motivating the proud, self-righteous nation to repentance.

The first point Malachi makes is that God has not moved! If you travel to Cleveland for a day, when you are done you know that you have a place to return to! After all, Columbus has not moved! It is the same way with God, the Israelites are the ones who need to return because it is they who have left. They are the ones who have changed and gone off on their own ways! To Israel, as well as all of the prodigals of our time the Lord Almighty invites a return. What is the way back? Quite simply it is to give God what is His own. God is unchangeable. He has not moved. But he asks us to move towards him.

I remember a story once told about watching children at a playground. One little child was playing, fell and cut himself. He screamed and mother jumped up ran to the child and promised that mummy would make everything better. Another day, a different child fell and was hurt, she cried out and mother barely looked up from her scandal sheet to say "Aw shut up!" A third day, another child fell and whimpered. Mother, quietly put down her knitting and gently called. "Peter, Peter, pick yourself up and come here. Come on, be a big boy, pick yourself up and come here!"

God speaks in the same way: "Return to me, and I will return to you,"

Now that the Lord has assured His people of His constancy, he invites them to repent from their sins and wicked ways. In this passage, the people are specifically charged with robbery. They have stolen from God. When they ask how the learn that they have with-held the Lord's tithes and offerings! One of the great tragedies of this century has been the Church's reluctance to teach the responsibility of tithing! It is estimated that if every single person in the country was reduced to making minimum wage and then if each and every one tithed sincerely, there would be three times the amount of money available for the Lord's work and for the relief of the poor! But, because the church has failed in this area, we are now taxed thirty per cent and more to provide for the poor and the widows and the aged! And the percentage continues to grow! Passage after passage in the Bible recommends the principle of the tithe. We too are called to give sacrificially!

Second, the people of Israel have shown a lack of reverence to the Creator God and complained against Him. Of course, our reaction is the same as those of Malachi's time, "How?" There are several ways of falling into this trap! There is talk and action among Christians today that discourages faith. Whenever we fail to take the Scriptures seriously in our life or in our witness we act as worthlessly as the liberals! Whenever we practice cynicism by doubting the sincerity of individuals or wherever we automatically expect the worst to happen we accuse God of letting us down! Whenever we envy the prosperity of the wicked and try to emulate their materialistic life style. But most dangerous here is the feeling that this Christian life is almost a waste of time. Are we ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do we need to return to Him and His promises?

Third, there is a promise here today for those who fear the Lord. We read of those who feared the Lord in Malachi's time. What did they do? They remembered the Lord God and they talked with each other. They shared together about their mutual fear and regard for God. They not only listened to God's Word together, but they spoke together about it. Have you ever heard people quote something they heard at their Church? Or have you heard people say, boy we really had a discussion at our Bible Study. Didn't you want to hear what was said?

What did the Lord say about these believers of Malachi's time? See how the Lord honored them in verse sixteen. He remembered them and he promised that "once again there will be a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." The difference between these people and the others of their generation is the same as in all generations. They are truly God's people called by Him. And as such they take Him and His messenger Malachi seriously. Just as we should. Do you want the same promise. Let us hear from the writer to the Hebrews in 3: 13-14: But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Repentance, reverence and remberance are the duties required. Do you want to grow in the faith? Then repent of your sins and put them behind you. Approach the God of heaven seriously and live before Him day by day. Talk to each other about the faith. Learn how to live it together. Then if you want your Church to grow, talk to others about what we say to each other. and let us give God the glory in the way we live our very lives.

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Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Westminster Shorter Catechism Series