Sermon 181

📖 Sermon 181 — Malachi 3:8–10

Date: May 6, 1956
Text: Malachi 3:8–10
Preacher: G. S. Kok
Subject: Old Testament Giving

INTRODUCTION

One of the most dangerous subjects for a minister to preach about is money. Ministers have sometimes been told not to preach about giving, because if they do, they will make enemies. Nothing hurts a person more than touching his pocketbook, they say.
However, the Bible has a great deal to say about giving, and when we refuse to give heed to what God says about this subject, we commit a great sin against Him by refusing to listen.
There is a close connection between your pocketbook and your soul. What you do with money reveals the true condition of your heart. You can judge what kind of Christian you are by your attitude toward giving.

I. ITS PRIMARY REQUISITE

A. It had to honor God

1. Giving had to reveal high respect and esteem for God.
2. The people in Malachi’s day failed to do this.
   They showed lack of respect and love by their offerings.
   They offered the lame and the sick — the animals they could not use anyway.
3. When they did not honor God in giving, it was an abomination to Him. Their offerings brought a curse, not a blessing.

B. Their giving had to reveal sincere love and devotion

1. Offerings had to be voluntary, flowing from a consecrated and obedient life.
2. People were repeatedly told that the offerings of hypocrites were worthless — God hated them. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

II. GIVING OF SACRIFICES

A. Sacrifices began early

1. Cain and Abel brought offerings.
2. Noah built altars and sacrificed.
3. Abraham also built altars and offered sacrifices.
4. These may not originally have been commanded — perhaps they flowed from repentant hearts remembering God’s clothing of Adam and Eve.

B. Sacrifices were formally prescribed through Moses

1. Given at Sinai when God revealed His will.
2. These sacrifices were part of the ceremonial law.
3. They foreshadowed the great sacrifice God would make in giving His Son.
4. By them, believers expressed hope for forgiveness and gratitude for redemption.
5. They showed the high cost of atonement.
6. Israel worshiped God as Redeemer through sacrifices.

III. GIVING OF TITHES

A. Early reference
Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek.

B. Prescribed by Mosaic Law

1. Tithes were given to the Levites, who oversaw worship.
2. They provided food, maintenance, and support for the house of worship: that there may be food in my house.
3. Tithes were distinct from sacrifices.
4. The Lord claimed the tithe as His own.
   To withhold it was to rob God.
5. Tithes were to be given willingly, not grudgingly.
6. God blessed those who presented them faithfully.

IV. GIVING OF ALMS

A. Distinct from sacrifices and tithes

1. Alms were not offerings for sin or for temple support.
2. Jews mistakenly thought they could earn forgiveness through almsgiving — this was wrong.
3. Many today confuse all giving with almsgiving.

B. Alms were gifts of charity to the poor

1. The poor were to receive alms.
2. God commanded that no one should be hungry among His people.
3. Jesus warned against ostentatious giving:
   Do not give to be praised.
   If you give for praise — you already have your reward.
4. Alms must be rooted in compassion and love, not in desire for recognition.

C. Jesus did not mean that all giving must be secret
If He did, you would sin by writing down your charitable giving for tax deduction.
His point concerns motive, not visibility.
Some refuse to give systematically and hide behind let not your left hand know what your right hand does to excuse their disobedience.

CONCLUSION

Much more could be said about Old Testament giving — there were many kinds of offerings for special occasions. Sometimes the Old Testament even records the names of givers and the amounts they contributed.
When you read the Old Testament, it seems as though God demanded a great deal from His people. We would complain even more than we do now if we had to bring all the offerings the Lord once required.
But thanks be to God, He has given the one great sacrifice Himself — Jesus Christ.
He became poor for us. He offered Himself so that we would never again need to bring sin offerings, burnt offerings, or offerings to redeem our firstborn.
We do not have to search our herds for the best young bull or ram to sacrifice. Christ has done it all.
Next Sunday, may the Lord grant that we hear what He says about New Testament giving.