Will A Man Rob God?

               The book of Malachi was written when Israel was at a low ebb spiritually. They were neglecting to honor God as their Father (1:6). They were offering polluted bread (1:7). They were offering the blind, the lame, the sick for sacrifice (1:8). God would not accept their offerings and worship (1:10) even though they covered the altar with tears (2:13).

                In addition to all of these sins, they were guilty of robbing God. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:8-10).

                Robbery is one of the worst of sins in the world. It takes from one what is rightfully his. This passage says that a man can be guilty of robbing God! It is true that one can rob God of time, of service, of worship and of ability used for the glory of God. But this text shows that one can rob God financially. Are you guilty of this sin?

How Can One Rob God Today?

                We can rob God by not giving at all. God’s plan for financing the work of the church is simple: “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Cor. 16:2). “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Each person must give as God has prospered him. If he doesn’t, he is withholding from God.

                We can rob God by withholding part and not giving as much as we should. The Israelites were not giving what God required of them. The tenth (tithe) was required. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord” (Lev. 27:30). Their failure to give all the tithe caused God to condemn them for robbing Him. Under the law of Christ we are to give as we have been prospered. If we fail to do so, we, too, are guilty of robbing God. The Lord tells us, “But as you abound in everything; in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us; see that you abound in this grace also” (2 Cor. 8:7).

                We rob God when we miss the worship and do not make up what we would have given. Sometimes people seem to think that if they are absent, they are freed from the requirement of giving. But the work of the Lord must go on. The financial requirements are the same. The local church is dependent on the giving of each Christian.

                We rob God by giving Him the leftovers. We need so much money to get by. Then, we want certain things that are not essentials but are luxuries (something adding to pleasure but not necessarily essential). Then if we have anything left over, we will give some of that unto the Lord. Is this the kind of sacrifice with which God is well-pleased?

Why Do Men Rob God?

                People may rob God because they have not been adequately taught the importance of giving or what is involved in it. Sincere brothers and sisters will give right when they are taught right. Some people do not give properly simply because they are stingy. They have a love of money (1 Tim. 6:9-10). Perhaps others fail to give simply because of poor management of their money. Do you fall into any of these categories?

The Consequences Of Robbing God

                When we fail to give as God has prospered us, we not only rob the God, but we rob the church of its ability to adequately do the work that God gave it to do. The lost are robbed of salvation. Those going forth to preach are robbed of adequate support. But most of all we rob ourselves of the blessings of liberality (Acts 20:35). Are you robbing God?

— Forrest D. Moyer