The Lord of Your Pride (Malachi 3:13-18)

Introduction

            God using you and God needing your help are on polar opposite ends of what is possible. But in the realm of our hearts, it’s easy to begin thinking this way. One thing that has destroyed many pastors and missionaries is believing your own press. That God can’t get anything done without you. This kind of thinking is what Satan tempted Eve with (Gen 3:5). It still gets us today.

The Passage

“Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? ‘So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.’ ”

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Malachi 3:13–18

Explanation of the Passage

Last week, we saw that God called Israel to repent. The nation asked how, and God responded with tithing. Today, that theme of repentance continues. The root of the people’s problem is pride (v. 13). Israel wasn’t bragging about being the best nation on the planet. Instead, they believed they were more faithful than God (v. 14). They don’t see the benefit of worshipping God anymore. They have kept their end of the deal, but God seems to not be able to keep His end. They now look at the wicked who boldly reject God with desire (v. 15). They believe the wicked who reject God and seemingly escape are the blessed ones, while they are cursed for trusting in a God too weak to deliver them.

God responds to this arrogance with a promise to the faithful (vv. 16-18). God sees those who still fear Him. Notice those who feared God spoke to one another (v. 16), which points to this being a group, not just an isolated individual. God says He will write their names in a book and will remember them. God then makes a promise to spare them as a father spares His son (v. 17). The day God spares them will also be the day the righteous and the wicked will be separated (v. 18). We will talk more about the “day of the Lord” next week. But I believe God is making a dual promise in verse 17. I think He is making a promise to separate the righteous and the wicked during the day of Jesus (which is that chapter 4 is about). But I also think God is making that same promise to the righteous during Malachi’s day. God will distinguish the righteous from the wicked in Israel and bless those who fear Him.

Welcoming Sinners

God welcomes sinners (Luke 15:2). Jesus came to this world for sinners (Luke 5:32). One thing this means is that the people of God are made of true believers and false believers. God saved the nation of Israel from Egypt, but an entire generation of them fell into unbelief. Jesus Himself chose twelve disciples and one of them betrayed Him. God’s plans don’t fail because some of the people who claim to follow Him eventually turn away. I used to believe it’s the job of the church to be as pure as possible when it comes to granting membership. I now see how arrogant this is. I was trying to be purer than God. Instead, the people of God must be as welcoming as Jesus and on Jesus’ terms. We are in the business of welcoming sinners. Sinners who repent.  

Purity through Repentance

            The distinguishing mark between the righteous and the wicked is repentance. Christians turn from their sin and turn toward Christ. Everyone else turns from the Lord and toward their sin. Thomas Watson said, “A repenting person fears and sins not; a graceless person sins and fears not.” Fear the Lord so that you will have nothing to fear on the last day.

            As a church, one reason we meet every week is to remember to repent. If we’re repenting, then that means we are living by grace through faith. When churches no longer call people to repentance, the dividing line between the wicked and righteous gets blurred. The wicked sin more accumulating more wrath in the process. The righteous become more discouraged. This is why churches need to always be about the business of calling one another to repentance and faith. This is also why Christians need to be about the business of a faithful church.  

True Humility

Notice Israel was guilty of arrogance, not for tooting their own horn, but for playing a funeral jig really loudly. We know the cocky arrogance when we see it. The athlete who, after the game, brags about how good he is. The wall street tycoon who tells everyone how much he made on the stock market. But we get tripped up with the humble brag and the lowly pride. A guy bragging about how hard life was back in his day. A lady who complaining about how poor she is. We can put the pin of pride on our chest for any reason whatsoever.

            True humility is boldly believing the promises of God. The thing with trusting God and living humbly before Him is that everyone else will call you arrogant. If you go down any street or college in America screaming, “Christians are scum” no one would say a thing. You may even make a friend. But if you calmly tell your feminist co-worker that Jesus is Lord, you will get written up by HR for hate speech. Don’t let the world’s standard for arrogance and humility lead you. Instead, but be comforted by the only opinion that matters.

Conclusion

            A sign of evil is when God’s people want wickedness. We want to have the world’s respect. We want concerts like the world. We want politicians, activists, actors, and musicians to like us. But a sign of God’s blessing is when we no longer want the gifts of the wicked. We would rather be scorned, ridiculed, and mocked by them than to share in their sin. What gives me hope for the days ahead is the church is calling wickedness “wicked” and God’s goodness “good.”