Introduction
A fictional tale
is told in management seminars about a young manager who was to replace a
retiring executive. The younger man approached the older, venerated leader and
asked, "Sir, I know of the legend that you have become as a leader in this
company. Could you give me some advice as I try to fill your shoes?"
The older man
pondered the question and responded: "Three words: Make good
decisions!"
"That is
good advice," the young man replied as he wrote this down. "And what
is the key to making good decisions?"
"One
word," the veteran executive replied. "Experience."
"And how do
I get this," the eager young man asked as he scribbled
"experience" on his paper.
"Two
words," the retiring man answered. "Bad decisions."
Each one of us is
faced with hundreds of decisions each day. In these decisions we want to make
good choices.
Why?
Because we are the sum total of our decisions. We make our decisions, and our
decisions make us. Mary Kay Ash said, "Be careful
of the choices you make today. They will become your lifestyle tomorrow."
Each day we face
choices regarding our walk with God. From the closing of Malachi's book let me
explain four areas where we are forced to make decisions.
I.
Will you render service to others? (3:13-15, 18)
Some of the
people Malachi addressed were guilty of grumbling and complaining. They were
talking to each other about their complaints against God. When confronted they
denied any wrongdoing. This is the seventh time in the book they deny their
errors. What were they talking about? Serving God was labor. It was useless.
Worshipping, tithing, and serving had no purpose. It was all empty, vain, and
futile.
This
complaint rears its ugly head in our hearts today. Some people stop serving
because they don't see any benefit. "I'm not getting anything out of
it." Or, "I've been faithful, yet God doesn't bless me. And, what's more, evil people seem to prosper while good people
suffer."
Malachi raised
the bar on service. He showed that service distinguishes the righteous from
the wicked (3:18). Righteousness in God's sight is more than a
profession of faith. The righteousness of true faith will prove itself in a
heart of service.
Serving God is
serious business. He commands us to serve. Isn't it interesting that we want
to be called a servant, but we don't want to be treated that way? We want
people to look at our humility and say, "What a servant." But
when treated like servant we complain and compare, just like the Israelites in
Malachi's day. Then we say, "That's not fair. I'm not being treated
right." But here's the thing: servants don't
have rights. They have given up their rights. Servants don't talk about
fairness. They serve.
By the way, all
the great people of the Bible were called servants. God referred to Moses as
"my servant Moses" (4:4). The ultimate servant is Jesus. We should
follow His example.
Each
day presents the choice of serving or not. What is your decision?
II.
Will you revere God? (3:16)
Some of the
people Malachi spoke to took God seriously. They "feared Yahweh and had
high regard for His name" (v. 16). Fearing the Lord is a synonym for
the heartfelt worship of God for who and what He is. Fearing the Lord is (1) a consciousness of being in the presence of True Greatness and
Majesty; (2) a thrilling sense of privilege; (3) an overflow of respect and
admiration; and perhaps supremely, (4) a sense that His opinion about my life
is the only thing that really matters."
To esteem His
name means to honor His person. There you acknowledge that the Lord is who He
claims to be: the Sovereign God of the universe, the Creator of all things, and
the Redeemer of humankind. He is to be held in awe. We are to tremble at the
thought of offending Him in any way. He is not to be played with. He is a
consuming fire and we should tremble in His presence.
God exists not
just to meet our needs. If anything we exist to meet His demands. Again, He is
the master; we are the servants. He has rights; we have responsibilities. He is
to be worshipped; we are the worshippers. He's the Lord of Hosts, the Most High
God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Almighty. He is holy, holy,
holy. The only proper response He deserves is one of great reverence and
respect.
Each
day presents the choice of fearing God or not. What is your decision?
III.
Will you be rewarded by God? (3:17)
Benefits come
with reverence of God. Verse 17 reveals five aspects of God's character that
identify the rewards God offers to those who serve and fear Him.
A.
God listens to us
"The LORD
took notice and listened" (3:16). When we reverence God, He gives us His
undivided attention. The image communicated is that of God leaning forward to
take in everything that is being said about Him. When we turn to God, He tunes
in to our frequency.
B.
God remembers us
"So a book
of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high
regard for His name" (3:16). He remembers what we have done. In fact, the
only thing God forgets is our confessed sins. God said, "Look, I have
inscribed you on the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49:16). We write something
on our hands so we won't forget it. God doesn't forget us. He remembers.
C.
God claims us
"'They will
be Mine,' says the LORD of Hosts" (3:17). The word mine is emphatic. Those
who fear God belong to Him. When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we transfer
ownership. We are not our own. God owns us. We are a chosen people, a claimed people.
D.
God treasures us
"'A special
possession on the day I am preparing'" (3:17). Special possession means to
set aside a thing or property. For example, you have many possessions, but
those items of great value are placed somewhere for safekeeping. God treasures
us in the same way. We matter to Him far more than we know.
E.
God spares us
"'I will
have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves
him'" (3:17). Malachi is a book of warnings of God's judgment. But it also
is a book of compassion in sparing those who serve, fear, and honor God. We
deserve justice, but God grants us mercy. We don't receive what we deserve. We
receive more than we deserve. God spares us.
Each day the evil
one confronts us with assaults to deceive and destroy us through wrong
thinking. He would have us not believe in these rewards. So we are faced with a
choice: will we believe the lies of Satan or the
words of God? What is your decision?
IV.
Will you be ready for judgment? (4:1-3)
Make no mistake
about it: There will be a day of judgment, symbolized by a fire. On this day
God will intervene dramatically in the affairs of history. On that day sinners
will be burned up the way fire burns and destroys dry grass. The phrase
"not leaving them root or branches" (4:1) indicates a complete
removal from the face of the earth. The wicked are like ashes under the feet of
God's people. And the saints, in contrast, will see a new day: a day of
rejoicing and celebration. Just as the rays of the sun bring warmth and health,
God will bring wholeness to every aspect of life.
Malachi reminds
us that the day is coming. On that day we will be treated either as sinners or
saints.
Are
you ready for the coming judgment? That
day could be this day. Are you ready? Will you face judgment as a sinner -
condemned to experience the wrath of God? Or as a saint - one who has trusted
in Jesus Christ as Lord. What is your decision?
Conclusion
Will you render
service to others? Will you reverence God? Will you be rewarded by God? Will
you be ready for judgment? Will you remember God's law? What is your decision?
In
his sermon "The Writing on the Wall," William Willimon tells the
story of an aggravating funeral at a country church.
The preacher
pounded on the pulpit and looked over at the casket. He would say, "It's
too late for Joe. He might have wanted to get his life together. He might have
wanted to spend more time with his family. He might have wanted to do that, but
he's dead now. It is too late for him, but it is not too late for you. There is
still time for you. You still can decide. You still are alive. It is not too
late for you. Today is the day of decision."
Today is the day
of decision. What is your decision?
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