Malachi 3:6-12
A key aspect of the process of revitalization is understanding the profound relationship between faithfulness, giving, and blessings, as outlined in the book of Malachi. There is a direct relationship between a church’s humility (dependance on God) and their health. In many cases, the level at which churches and individuals cling to their blessings is an indicator of their faith. The more we hold to our blessings, the less we value the One who supplied them.
In this post, we'll explore the wisdom found in Malachi 3:6-13 and discuss how the relationship between faith and faithfulness can guide your church towards a more vibrant and faithful future.
God's Unwavering Faithfulness
(vv. 6-7) Malachi reminds us of the unwavering faithfulness of God. He emphasizes that God's love and commitment to His people are unchanging. No matter how unfaithful we may be at times, God remains steadfast. This truth is at the core of church revitalization. When the church leaders and the congregation understand God's faithfulness, they can lead with confidence and inspire trust among the members. Christ is faithful, so we can trust His ability to build His church in His way. Our churches are not declining and dying because God has grown weak. They are declining and dying because we have lost sight of His glory, power, majesty, and preeminence in His church.
Tithing and Stewardship
(vv. 8-9) The Bible mentions the tithe, an Old Testament command, but it also reminds us that discipleship often demands more than the Law. Disciples have been transformed into new creatures called to submit to the Spirit’s sanctifying work in us. The law called for the ten percent, discipleship calls for us to lay ourselves completely on the altar as living sacrifices. In today's church age, we are called to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. This includes our finances, time, and talents. It's about acknowledging that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and giving back to Him is an act of worship. Many declining churches are financially stable. It does not require much to turn the lights on and minister to a handful of generous members. These churches are often so inwardly focused that they stopped giving to ministries, their association, or through the Cooperative Program long ago. Rather than being a conduit of God’s blessings, the church has become a stagnant storehouse where survival has replaced discipleship and Biblical generosity as the primary end.
Faithfulness and Blessings
(vv. 10-11) This passage highlights the connection between our faithfulness to God and the blessings we receive. Israel was missing out on God's best blessings due to their unfaithfulness, particularly in the realm of giving. While it's essential to clarify that our giving, our works, or our self-righteous goodness are not a magic formula for material prosperity, there are blessings tied to faithfulness. In the context of church revitalization, this means that as your church community becomes more faithful, you'll likely experience blessings beyond material wealth. In the letters to the churches in Revelation, Christ promised judgment on unfaithful churches and commended suffering faithful churches. Our faithfulness demonstrates our dependence on God for salvation and sustainment, and we should not expect God to bless our efforts to make unhealthy, unfaithful “disciples”. While faithfulness might not equate to a church’s financial or numerical prosperity, it certainly leads to the strength and joy that comes by living in the center of the Father’s will.
Impact on Others
(v. 12) One often overlooked aspect of church revitalization is the influence your faithfulness has on those outside the church. As you grow in faith and demonstrate your trust in God through various aspects of your life, including how you manage your finances, your community becomes a living testimony of God's faithfulness. Your faithfulness can serve as a light, attracting others who may not yet know God. We often complain that the younger generations in our churches are not as generous. The reality of this is, they aren’t and the older generations probably have not always been as generous as they are today. Faithfulness is the product of discipleship. Rather than complaining, we should make it our goal to pattern faithfulness as we make disciples trusting that as the younger Christians in the church mature and grow more financially stable (with more disposable income) they will also become more faithful in their giving. Our lives are a testimony to those in the church and outside the church that God can be trusted and He, not His blessings, is the true source of our security.
Application for Church Revitalization
1. Be Living Sacrifices: The message from Malachi calls us to give more than just 10% of our income. It challenges us to offer our entire lives as living sacrifices to God. In the context of church revitalization, this means that the leadership and congregation should be willing to invest their hearts and souls into the mission of the church. Pastors, this means that we cannot lead a church to a future of health and life if we are constantly looking for the first opportunity to move on to something “easier”. The leaders and the church members must be committed to dedicating ourselves to the task of making disciples in our community for the glory of God.
2. View Giving as Worship: Encourage your church members to see their giving as an act of worship. It's not just a financial transaction but a heartfelt expression of faith and gratitude towards a faithful God. This also makes it really difficult to manipulate the church through our giving. The best singer who threatens to stop singing because he doesn’t like the song ends up looking like a spoiled child. In the same way, the person worshipping through their giving looks childish when they tell God that they will not give back to Him any of the money that He has entrusted to them for their worship because they are mad that things are not happening the way they want them to.
3. Impact on Others: Keep in mind that your faithfulness can influence those who have yet to experience God's grace. By living out your faith, you become a shining example of His faithfulness, which can lead others to trust in Him. Let’s commit to shining the glory of God to our communities through our selfless giving—through our service and through our finances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as your church seeks revitalization, remember the profound connection between faithfulness, giving, and blessings. Understand that God's faithfulness is the bedrock of your journey, and as you and your congregation grow in faithfulness, you'll experience blessings that go far beyond material wealth. Your faithfulness will not only transform your church but also impact the lives of those who look to you as a living testament of God's love and grace.
Note: The purpose of this series is not to offer sermon structure or outlines, but is to provide revitalization pastors and church members with potential application or connection points between the text and aspects of church revitalization that they may be facing in the church.