Robbing God
January 11, 2004
We very much admire faithfulness: in marriage, in relationships, as citizens, in political office. Tolkien picks up on the theme through his Trilogy as the characters wrestle with their faithfulness - Frodo to his task, Sam to Frodo, Aragorn to his heritage as king, Merry and Pippin toward their duty as friends, Legolas and Gimli to their vow, Boramir to his vow over against the lure of the Ring's deceptive power.
Theme: Faithfulness to the Lord only mirrors the faithfulness of the Lord. But faithfulness goes deeper than externals. We can appear faithful by church attendance and outward duty yet inwardly and in private issues be unfaithful. So we must guard ourselves against the deceit of unfaithfulness.
I. Religious presumption
To think something is true without honest investigation and openness. In this case it is considering oneself to be faithful based on external show in religion.
1. "I'm okay, but maybe you're not okay"
Daniel Defoe in Robinson Crusoe, "I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is...that they are not ashamed to sing and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed gods, but are ashamed of the returning which only can make them be esteemed wise men" (Benton, 99).
(1) They were putting blame on God (e.g. 2:13,17)
(2) Unexamined life - thinks little of personal sin; categorizes what "others" do as sin but not
oneself
(3) Presumed faithful (e.g. Peter, "Though all forsake you, I will not")
(4) Limited obedience to externals - 'as long as I look good everything is all right'
(5) Exaggerated view of oneself
(6) Neglected to pay attention to God's commands (4:4, 7a)
2. Take action
(1) Passivity in spiritual life gets nowhere. Note the many commands for disciples to take up your
cross...deny yourself, love one another...love your enemy...do good to those that despise you.
"I know what I need to do," and then nothing is done, e.g. Saul admitted his sin but took no
action to return. Revelation 2:5, "Remember from where you have fallen and repent and do the
deeds you did at first."
(2) To "return" one must know where he has left the path (e.g. lost driving, return)
(3) How regularly do you evaluate your life, attitudes, conversation, priorities, time, and interests in
light of God's standards? Haggai 1:5,7, "Consider you ways!" then 1:12-15 they obeyed and
the Lord was with them.
(4) Spiritual inventory is a regular need.
II. Robbery of a different sort
The immutability and faithfulness of the Lord is the foundation. Here they are examined in relationship to their tangible resources - income, and their responsibility for God's work. The issue is not that God is broke and needs a financial lift. It is a matter of mirroring God's faithfulness. Without developing faithfulness in material/financial issues, then we will be held captive by those things. Generosity keeps the heart humble and dependent on the Lord.
1. God's charge
(1) Rob - can imply "defrauding," which means they gave something but made their offering to
appear other than it was, e.g. Ananias and Sapphira. The whole idea sounds absurd - robbing
God who is exalted in the heavens. Yet the reality is that we have to do with Him. He chose in
the Old Testament to identify with the temple and with its worship. Now He is identified with
the Church - the Bride of Christ.
(2) Rob can also mean 'to take forcibly.' The whole picture is the attitude of one who is unfaithful
to the Lord. That's what was called for but that's not what happened.
(3) Neglect of tithes and offerings were symptoms of deeper issues - The entire matter of
faithfulness, love for the Lord, and His Lordship. Tithes were given to support the Levites and
their ministry. They in turn gave tithe to the Aaronites or priests. Offerings were freely given
to support priests. The spiraling effects meant that the whole of their spiritual leadership was
affected.
(4) The curse implied divine action against them. The whole nation was affected; e.g. Haggai
1:9-11
(5) Does the Lord honor generosity? Does He turn a blind eye to greediness and stinginess?
2. God's commands
The two commands and accompanying explanations:
(1) The "whole tithe" implied that they gave a portion but likely claimed that it was more. In the
New Testament, giving was regular (I Corinthians 16:1-4), purposeful (II Corinthians 8:1-6),
helped the brethren in need (II Corinthians 8:7-12), and was an expression of thanksgiving to
God (II Corinthians 9:12); it also provided for work of ministry and missions (Philippians
4:15-16). The "storehouse" was either a special building somewhere on the temple square, or
in one of the additional buildings of the temple complex that was specially adapted for this
purpose" (P. A. Verhaef, NICOT, 306).
(2) The reason - "that there may be food in My house." This was quite literal since the Levites
and priests did not own land as did the other Jews and were limited in what they could produce
for food. The nation was given a stewardship in this.
(3) Question of tithes being only an Old Testament principle. Kaiser points out, "It must be noted
that the practice of tithing antedates the Law of Moses" (477, Communicator's Commentary),
e.g. Abraham in Genesis 14:20. J. M. Boice - "it is generally the case that in the New
Testament the obligation of the Old Testament legislation are heightened rather than
lessened...so while we are not required to give a specific tenth of our income, it is hard to think
of a normal Christian, blessed with the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ doing less" (Minor
Prophets, 255).
(4) What is the value of tithing? If it is done cheerfully it is a great starting point for grace giving.
It is at least on equal par with those in the Old Testament who had far less of God's blessings
than we've known in the gospel. Abraham's giving of tithe was spontaneous gratitude to the
Lord. John Benton, "The gospel should free us from bondage to self to follow in Abraham's
footsteps out of love for God who first loved us" (Losing Touch with the Living God, 104). As
Abraham initiated it in Genesis 14, it seems to be a basis for
(a) admitting that God is the owner and we are stewards,
(b) recognizing dependence on the lord,
(c) freeing ourselves from the temptation of greed,
(d) and learning not to hold the things of the world too tightly.
E.g. The Duke of Wellington's (victor at Waterloo) biographer found his old check stubs: "When
I saw how he spent his money, I knew the man" (Benton 104).
(5) Second command: "test Me now in this." The Lord happily puts Himself on this spot. The
testing is an opportunity to see that the Lord is always faithful. He is not commanding what He
doesn't model.
(6) The response to the testing will be an abundance. One can truly never out give the Lord.
Picture of flooding - same term used in Noah's story of rain coming out of the heavens in
abundance (Genesis 7:11). Is it risky to obey God? That was the question they faced. The
risk came in dislodging them from trust in self, loving the world, and casting themselves in
dependence on the Lord.
3. God's assurance
(1) You won't have room to hold God's blessings. We must not box this in to blessings of money.
That can be included but how about health, friends, relationships, strength, joy, etc.? Luke
6:38
(2) The devourer rebuked
That which spoiled their provisions and income would be rebuked by God! Remember - money is
not the real issue; it's our heart devotion of which our money is only a tangible evidence. Is
the Lord any less concerned about the manifestations of heart devotion now as then?
(3) The blessing spreads so that the rest of the world recognizes the uniqueness of God's hand on
His faithful people (v. 12).
Conclusion
1. Have you inventoried your own life lately?
2. Do you seek to regularly evaluate your life in light of God's Word?
3. What does the way you use your money express about your devotion?
4. If someone read through your check stubs, what would they say you valued most in life?
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