"You are a thief!"

The words are so biting that they are not often heard in polite company. Yet in essence, these are God's words to Israel in Malachi 3:8, "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me!"
God had made the Jews stewards of time, money and energy and expected them to return a portion of those blessings to him for his spiritual work. To selfishly withhold what they owed back to God was to rob him!

Can we rob God today? How would such be possible?

* By withholding tithes and offerings (vs. 8) The lack of spiritual vision among the Jews brought on a failure to give.

Those who have no vision about God's spiritual challenges of preaching the gospel and helping the poor are anemic givers, whether to needy individuals or to congregations. So, they let their giving "slide" and in doing so become robbers of God.

* By giving what was easy to give and what was defiled (Chapter 1:8) The giving of lame and blind animals would ease the conscience of the givers. After all, they were complying with the "act of giving."

Many today are concerned with complying with the "act of giving" to obey I Corinthians 16:2 but they aren't really true givers. To them, giving is not an expression of love, but an "act of worship" that must be observed, as it were, to make sure all the blanks on an imaginary checklist are marked. Because the basis of their worship is completing a checklist and not love, they put something in the collection plate, but not enough to hurt. In refusing to sacrifice, they are robbers of God, unlike David, who refused to give to God that which cost him nothing (II Sam. 2:24).

* By withholding a loving, grateful attitude towards God (Chapter 1:6). The lack of generosity is but a symptom of even greater spiritual affliction, a lack of appreciation for the One who has given life, breath and hope. This is God's greatest concern for spiritual robbers.

* Material poverty: Material poverty generally follows selfishness (Haggai 1:6). The Jews of Malachi's days suffered economically for their stinginess (3:8,11) as do people today.

* Spiritual poverty: All individuals can be divided into two general categories: (1) those who are generally givers and (2) those who are primarily takers. Only givers, those who love God and their neighbors with all their hearts, can truly know the great blessings that come from being imitators of Christ.

Wherever takers abound, whether among ancient Jews or in local congregations in the twentieth century, coldness, unhappiness and spiritual emptiness follow.

* Repentance - The prophet Haggai told miserly Israelites, "consider your ways." (1:5,7) They heeded his words, repented, and gave so that the temple could be finished. The solution for stinginess was the same in the time of Malachi, perhaps 100 years later. He proclaimed, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house." (3:10)

Modern American Christians who live in unprecedented luxury need to "consider their ways" to determine if they are robbing God. Repentance might be necessary for many, and yet, how many have you seen confess that they are robbers of God?

* Considering needs - Just as Haggai and Malachi presented God's needs before the people to stimulate generosity and alleviate spiritual stealing, so elders and preachers today must keep God's people informed of the needs that exist.

Years ago, a congregation received an appeal from an effective gospel preacher for support but there simply wasn't enough being collected at the time to cover the need. Before giving up, however, a member stood before the congregation, explained the appeal and then pointed out that if each member would only give a small amount extra each Sunday, the need could be met. The following Sunday there was a dramatic increase in the collection, the evangelist's support was taken on, souls were saved and perhaps some robbers of God learned to consider their ways to saving of their souls!

Instead of automatically assuming that there is not enough being collected to meet worthy appeals, elders need to learn to present those appeals to congregations to challenge them to give.

* Learning the joy of giving: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35). Givers are always happier than takers. Constant teaching of this divine principle will bring happiness and salvation.

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