«’But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow,
But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished -for I am a great King’, says the lord of hosts,
‘and My name is to be feared among the nations’»
(Malachi 1:14).
The religious degeneration of the Israelites was encouraged by the permissive, passive leadership of the priests. The nation felt increasingly indifferent toward God and their leaders accepted their religious routines without the fervor and faithfulness that He deserved. God’s law required that only perfect animals be brought as sacrificial offerings (see Leviticus 1:3), but the priests allowed the people to bring animals that were blind, lame, or ill.
God was not honored by those offerings; He would rather not receive them than accept inappropriate homage in an empty ritual, with an indifferent attitude. The attitude and manner in which we prepare our offerings reflect the purity of our worship. God does not need our money; He is the owner of all things. Our offerings are an opportunity for us to testify and to exalt His greatness. An offering without genuine gratitude and love is as offensive to God as those imperfect animals that the Israelites offered in order to get rid of them.
The priests sold the animals at exorbitant prices; they accepted stolen animals or animals which had been attacked by wild beasts. Their attitude was one of apathy, and they carried out the services with little reverence. The greatest punishment would be for them, and the worst curse would fall on their heads. The offerings represented the image that givers had of God’s character. By bringing defective animals, what was useless to them or that they did not wish to keep, the Israelites were describing an imperfect and unacceptable concept of a fearful God, the great King, the Lord of hosts.
What concept of God do your tithes and offerings represent? Are you giving only what you have left over to the church, while you spend lavishly on your pleasures? Some congregations hold raffles and other fundraisers to increase the amount of a special offering, representing God’s character imperfectly. «Such offerings are lame and diseased and bear the curse of God. They are the price of souls. We do not propose to appeal to the lust of appetite or resort to carnal amusements as an inducement to Christ’s professed followers to give of the means which God has entrusted to them. If they do not give willingly, for the love of Christ, the offering will in no case be acceptable to God.” — Welfare Ministry, ch. 39, p. 289.
Ask God to help you to represent Him with dignity in your life, in your worship, and in your offering.
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Angelica Cuate & Esteban Cortes
