HONOR: A MATTER OF GIVING
Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase . . . .-Proverbs 3:9 (NKJV)
I don't think any of us wants to dishonor God.
Even people who don't have a relationship with God understand that disrespecting Him is something that you just don't want to do. Sadly, a lot of Christians are doing exactly that.
How so?
This was the very question the Israelites asked God at a time when He confronted them about dishonoring Him:
The LORD Almighty says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. I am your father and master, but where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have despised my name! But you ask, 'How have we ever despised your name?'" (Malachi 1:6 NLT)
God went on to tell them that they were guilty of dishonoring Him by being negligent in their giving toward Him:
"You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar." . . . "You defile them by saying the altar of the LORD deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the LORD Almighty. (Malachi 1:7-8 NLT)
If I may paraphrase here, God is saying,
Help me out with this. You want me to honor you, but you feel the freedom to dishonor me by giving me your unwanted leftovers? What does this say about your heart toward me? And what does it say about our heart toward Him when we do the same thing?
As New Testament believers, we're no longer bound to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament (Colossians 2:16-17), but we still have a responsibility to give generously to the Lord's work (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). If this isn't happening in our lives, then we're guilty of the same sin as the Israelites were in their day.
Without being legalistic on this point, we must recognize that God is either being honored or being dishonored by our giving, and the difference is bound to be reflected in our character.
Discuss with your group how honor is reflected in giving. How have you seen someone honor God thorough a gracious gift?
Dig into Malachi Chapter 1. What do you think was occurring in the hearts of those offering the weak sacrifices? What was God’s answer to this act of dishonor? How does this passage challenge you to rethink what you give and how you give it?
Decide as a group to take a radical step of obedience and faith. Gather together an offering of time, talents, and treasures and present your unexpected offering to a family who is suffering financial hardship. Explain that the reason for your gift is to show them the love of Jesus!
