Malachi 3:7 - 4:6

Study 3 – Malachi 3:7 – 4:6

1. In this passage the people of Israel are accused of robbing God and of saying harsh things against Him. If we are to achieve the promised blessings of God we must honor Him through our obedience to His Word! According to this passage the very first step in returning to the Lord is through the proper giving of tithes and offerings into the storehouse so that the work of the ministry will not be hindered.
   
   
2. This passage is not about class warfare at all, it is about who is obedient and who is not. Being an evildoer was no guarantee of prosperity either, if it were then there would have been no need for this rebuke through the prophet Malachi. What we must do is place our hope in an eternal future and get our eyes off of present circumstances whether they be times of financial blessing or times of financial need. The apostle Paul said, “I have learned the secret of being content in all situations.” Serving the Lord carries no guarantees of worldly financial success. To think otherwise is to miss the point of Malachi entirely. Neither, however, is serving the Lord a call to poverty. Serving the Lord is a call to Trust. Serving the Lord is a guarantee of provision and blessing, but on God’s terms – not ours.