Two Kinds of People in Faith Communities

The end of Malachi 3 draws a distinction between two types of people in many faith communities. The Lord has been conversing with His people, stating realities about their hearts they did not realize were true. They were offering Him second best, considering worship to be weary, robbing Him in tithes and offerings, and suggesting that evil people were considered good because they never seemed to suffer. At the end of chapter three, that complaint continues by the first group:

Malachi 3:13–15 (ESV) “Your words have been hard against me, says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’ ”

Notice the first complaint. They consider God's Word to be hard. Why? It was true. To the first group, God's Word seems harsh. They do not think He's seeking their good, seeking to turn them back to what He intended for them. No, they can only complain about what's wrong with them, not how God, in His mercy, seeks to help them walk through repentance into restoration and revival. 

This group of people exists today. They complain that God is harsh, while at the same time, they do not recognize all the ways they dishonor Him, and put Him second or third or even further down on their list of priorities. They know things are wrong, but instead of fixing them, they just gripe about the Lord. Take the Lord out of the picture, and unbelievers will complain about everyone else instead of fixing themselves. 

They also suggest serving God is "in vain". Why? Because arrogant and evil people seem to get ahead. Is this true? It doesn't matter. Because to these people, everyone but themselves is arrogant and evil. It's hard to see spiritual lethargy in ourselves. It's easy to point it out in almost anyone else.

At the end of the chapter is the second group of people. These are the ones who respond, who take God's correction seriously and somberly. They are humbled when He speaks and contrite when He convicts. What else do they do?

Malachi 3:16 (ESV) Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

They spoke with one another. They didn't complain about the Lord or others, they addressed their own spiritual condition and dealt with it, responding to God. What happened? The beautiful words after that first sentence: "The Lord paid attention and heard them". He took notice of those who took seriously His Word. And not only that, but He put their names in a book. And the chapter ends with even more glorious blessings:

Malachi 3:17–18 (ESV) “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

He took possession of them. He spared them. He revealed them to the world as those who honored God. The heritage of the righteous is the reward in God's hand for those who hear and heed His Word. 

Which group are you in?

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