Malachi 1:6-8 (NKJV) “A son honours his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honour? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favourably?” Says the LORD of hosts.
Everyone should give honour when honour is due. Scripture teaches us to honour our parents. We honour them by holding them in high esteem, loving, and respecting them. We are to honour them in words and deed. We obey our parents because we honour them.
God demands the proper honour due to Him, as shown in His dealings with the corrupt priests in this passage. In His holiness, God has revealed to the Jewish people that the way to approach Him is through the shedding of the blood of an unblemished lamb. The lamb must be thoroughly inspected to confirm it is without blemish before being offered at the altar.
We are called to honour God through our tithes and freewill offerings, given out of love and obedience. We seek to honour Him by giving the best, out of gratitude for all Jesus Christ has done for us.
Money was our master before we were saved, but God should be our master after we are saved. We cannot serve two masters, because we will prioritise and trust one over the other. Giving the best that we have with the money that God has given us is an expression of His Lordship, declaring our dependence on Him and breaking the shackles of the control of money over our lives.
When we truly seek to worship Jesus, we will hold nothing back but offer Him our very best. True worship creates space for the work of God to advance in our lives.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV) Honour the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
It is consistent in Scripture that we should give God the best, whether it is an unblemished lamb or the produce of the land. The first fruits, the best, and not the leftovers of the harvest should be set aside to honour the Lord. Our giving reveals our hearts’ attitude towards God. We are called to offer what brings Him glory and reflects the worthiness of His name.
Reflection: In your daily life, what are some specific ways you can more intentionally honour God with your time, finances, and talents? What practical change can you make this week to offer God your best rather than what is convenient?
Sermon Series: Worshipping the King of kings
将当得的荣耀归给祂
玛拉基书1:6-8 6“藐视我名的祭司啊，万军之耶和华对你们说：‘儿子尊敬父亲，仆人敬畏主人。我既为父亲，尊敬我的在哪里呢？我既为主人，敬畏我的在哪里呢？’你们却说：‘我们在何事上藐视你的名呢？’ 7 你们将污秽的食物献在我的坛上，且说：‘我们在何事上污秽你呢？’因你们说，耶和华的桌子是可藐视的。 8 你们将瞎眼的献为祭物，这不为恶吗？将瘸腿的、有病的献上，这不为恶吗？你献给你的省长，他岂喜悦你，岂能看你的情面吗？这是万军之耶和华说的。
人人都当在当得的地方给予尊荣。圣经教导我们要孝敬父母。我们藉着尊重、爱与敬重来表达对他们的尊荣，并在言语与行为上尊敬他们。我们因着尊荣父母而顺服他们。
同样，神要求祂子民给予祂当得的尊荣，正如祂在这段经文中对败坏的祭司所发出的责备。在祂的圣洁中，神已向以色列人启示：亲近祂的道路，是借着献上无残疾羔羊的流血祭。羔羊必须经过彻底的查验，确认毫无瑕疵，才能被献在祭坛上。
我们蒙召要藉着奉献十一奉献与甘心祭来尊荣神，这一切都出于爱与顺服。我们因感恩基督耶稣为我们所成就的一切，而献上我们最好的来尊荣祂。
在我们得救之前，金钱曾是我们的主人；但在得救之后，神必须成为我们的主。人不能事奉两个主，因为我们必定会优先并信靠其中一方。将我们所拥有的财物中最好的献给神，是对祂主权的表达，宣告我们对祂的依靠，并折断金钱对我们生命的辖制。
当我们真诚寻求敬拜耶稣时，我们不会有所保留，而是将最好的献给祂。真实的敬拜会为神在我们生命中的作为腾出空间。
箴言3:9-10 9 你要以财物和一切初熟的土产尊荣耶和华， 10 这样，你的仓房必充满有余，你的酒榨有新酒盈溢。
圣经一贯强调我们要将最好的献给神，无论是无残疾的羔羊，还是地里的出产。初熟的果子、最好的收成，而不是剩余的部分，都应分别出来尊荣耶和华。我们的奉献显明我们对神的心态。我们被呼召献上能够荣耀祂、并彰显祂名配得尊荣的事物。
默想：
在你的日常生活中，有哪些具体方式可以更有意识地在时间、金钱与恩赐上尊荣神？你本周可以做出什么实际的改变，使你向神献上最好的，而不是仅仅方便的部分？
讲章系列：敬拜万王之王