This morning I was reading in Malachi, and was caught in 1:6-8. It’s a simple concept, but paralyzing, nevertheless.
The passage speaks of how the people owe God his honor as a Father, yet they show contempt for His name. They are then confused as to how they’ve done so, and remind Him of all the sacrificing they’ve done. God then rebukes the people for giving him their blind, wounded, crippled, and diseased cattle as a sacrifice. It then loses all its honor; in fact, it’s a downright insult.
The best association I can make, particularly in the holiday season is re-gifting. You know, the pig-shaped can opener you received last year that you decide to wrap back up and give to someone else this year? Yeah. That’s the idea.
But that’s what I do to God so often. I’ll say that I’m giving Him my all and giving Him a devotion time each day as my offering. But if I’m distracted, leave the TV on and happen to turn and look at what’s going on with America’s Next Top Model or go grab a drink in the middle….then my offering is tainted. It is no longer a pure, sacred gift to the One who is so deserving. If I go serve at a function at the church, yet I’m whining or grumbling on the way, it’s tainted.
So, we lose the whole meaning of giving a gift. We say “Oh, it’s the thought that counts.” But that’s just the thing; there was no thought [or more importantly, heart] involved. The point of giving a gift is to SACRIFICE something of yourself…be it money, manpower, time, energy, etc….that went into that gift. So, the pig canopener is only a self-help that clears an extra two inches in your own drawer…ergo it’s just an insult. Not a gift. Man, I sure do pray He’ll make me better at giving him the best sacrifices I have…
…and not the one-eyed cow with acne…
