Word In Life Study Bible
PRIVATE COMPLACENCY SHOWS UP IN PUBLIC WAYS
Mal.1:6
If you ever wonder whether your zeal for God has waned, consider three strong indicators that Malachi says reveal your lack of heart for the Lord:
(1) A loss of quality in your financial giving. If you gradually start withholding financial contributions to your church and other ministry-related causes, that is probably a sign of waning commitment. Just as a parent is worthy of respect and an employer is worthy of one’s best work, so God our Father and Master deserves our best offerings (Mal. 1:6–8). He is not pleased with lame efforts, weak excuses, or cheap gifts (1:7–11).
(2) Creeping idolatry. Idolatry is not just bowing down to an image of a pagan god, as some of the Israelites’ wives were doing (2:10–12). Idolatry means allowing anything to replace God as number one in your life (see “Modern Day Idolatry” at Jer. 10:1–10).
(3) A loss of quality in your marriage. If you have grown apart from your spouse to the point that you are committing physical or emotional adultery with someone else, that is a definite sign that something is amiss in your relationship with the Lord (Mal. 2:13–16). God hates divorce (2:16). What must He think of a society with a skyrocketing divorce rate?
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
Print
Email
