(Malachi 3:8–9)
A Sobering Question
“Will a man rob God?” That’s the question God Himself asked His people through the prophet Malachi. It is a bold, unsettling question. The people responded with disbelief: “How have we robbed You?” But God’s answer was direct: “In tithes and offerings.”
We may be tempted to distance ourselves from that charge. After all, we don’t think of ourselves as thieves—certainly not thieves of holy things. Yet, a closer look at Scripture reveals that robbery against God can take many forms. And the more seriously we examine ourselves, the more we may find areas where we, too, are guilty.
This article is not meant to shame—but to awaken. If God asks, “Will a man rob God?”—we must have the humility to ask, “Have I?”
1. Robbing God of Obedience
Obedience is not optional to those who believe in God. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Yet many choose selective obedience, discarding what is inconvenient or misunderstood.
We are commanded to obey the gospel. Paul writes, “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). Jesus commands belief and baptism in Mark 16:16. To ignore or delay such instructions is not just procrastination—it is robbing God of the submission He deserves.
To obey halfway is to disobey. And disobedience robs God of His rightful lordship in our lives.
2. Robbing God in Our Giving
In 1 Corinthians 16:1–2, Christians are commanded to give as they have been prospered. This is not merely about finances—it’s about trust, love, and priorities. Many profess to give, but in truth, they give reluctantly, irregularly, or not at all.
In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira lied about their offering and were struck dead—not for giving little, but for pretending to give all. Today, when we withhold or deceive in our giving, we echo that same spirit. God does not measure by the amount, but by the heart.
Giving is an act of worship. When we fail to give as we should, we rob God of both our trust and our gratitude.
3. Robbing God of Our Time
Time is one of the most valuable gifts we’ve been given, and one of the most often wasted. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
We find time for work, hobbies, rest, and entertainment—but claim we’re too busy to pray, study, or serve. Jesus said, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).
Every day spent without devotion is a day stolen from God’s purpose. Let us not rob Him of this most precious offering.
4. Robbing God of Our Hearts
The greatest command is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27). That’s not just part of us—it’s all of us.
Too many hearts today are divided. The love of the world creeps in—choking out passion, purity, and purpose. “Do not love the world nor the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). When we give our affections to lesser things, we rob God of what He alone deserves.
We may sing, pray, and attend—but if our hearts are not His, He is robbed.
5. Robbing God of Our Bodies
Paul says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Every part of our life—our actions, our habits, our energy—is meant to bring glory to Him.
Romans 12:1 adds, “Present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice.” When we misuse or neglect our bodies, when we engage in sin or idleness, we withhold from God what is rightfully His.
Our bodies are not ours to waste—they are His to use.
6. Robbing God of Our Influence
We may not all preach sermons, but we all preach something by the way we live. Jesus called us “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Paul said, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
When our conduct leads others away from God, we rob Him of the good influence He intended for us to have. When we choose silence over conviction, compromise over truth, or apathy over compassion—we dim the light God placed in us.
Others are watching. What do they see?
7. Robbing God of Worship
Worship is not just an obligation—it is a joy. “Let us not neglect our own meeting together… but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:25). Worship is about spirit and truth (John 4:24). It’s not about routine—it’s about reverence.
When we skip the assembly without cause, when we offer empty words or distracted minds, when we withhold the worship He deserves—we rob Him.
Millions draw near with lips, but their hearts are far (Matthew 15:9). Let us be among those who worship in spirit and in truth.
8. Robbing God by Wearing Human Names
Acts 11:26 tells us, “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” That is the name God has given. Yet many choose to wear the names of men, denominations, or creeds.
Paul preached so clearly that even King Agrippa knew: “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). He didn’t say “a Baptist” or “a Lutheran”—he said Christian.
To wear another name is to rob God of the glory due His Son. Let us wear only the name He has given.
Conclusion: Examine Yourself
The people in Malachi’s day were shocked by God’s accusation. “How have we robbed You?” But God knew. And He told them plainly.
Could the same be true of us?
- Are we robbing God of obedience?
- Of time? Of worship? Of influence?
- Of our hearts, our bodies, our giving?
Let us not offer God half-hearted service. Let us not rob Him of what is rightfully His.
“Give to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). That includes everything—because we are His.
May we live—and give—with the understanding that nothing we have truly belongs to us. Our time, our gifts, our bodies, our praise—all of it is from God, and all of it belongs to Him. We are stewards, not owners. Let us stop holding back and start giving Him what He deserves: our full devotion, our faithful obedience, and our willing hearts.
The Simple Gospel 