"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation" (Malachi 3:8-9).
Like the Jews of old, we may think it is impossible for a man to rob God. How can we, being mere flesh and blood, steal things from an all-powerful God? We may not think it is possible for us to take things away from God, but it is possible for us to deprive God of things that belong to Him.
1. Our Contribution. The Jews of Malachi's day were robbing God by withholding their tithes and offerings. Likewise, Christians can rob God by failing to give as they should. There are some principles in the New Testament which must govern Christians as they make their weekly contribution to the local church.
First, Christians are to give as they have prospered (1 Cor. 16:2). If we have prospered more in any week, we are to give more. If we have made less, we can give less. Second, we are to give as we purpose in our hearts (2 Cor. 9:7). No one has the right to tell us how much we are to give. Being an act of worship, giving is to be an expression of our gratitude towards God.
We know there are some Christians who fail to give as they should, or who choose to withhold their contribution as a way of protesting the decisions made by the leaders of the church. Such is not allowed by God and is, in fact, robbing God.
2. Our Praise and Worship. "Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts" (Psalm 96:8). Some people have the idea that they can just stay home and worship God, or worship Him in a deer stand or on a river bank. The Bible teaches that worshippers are to come together and give God the worship that is due unto Him (1 Cor. 14:26). The person who chooses to absent himself from the worship assemblies of the local church is depriving God of his worship.
However, we can also rob God by failing to worship Him in the proper manner. Jesus said, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Worship in truth is worship with the correct acts. Worship in spirit is worship with the correct attitude. Worship must be what God desires, not what we enjoy. Also, worship must come from the heart, not from thoughtless routine.
3. Ourselves. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). A dead sacrifice is only good once, but a living sacrifice is in perpetual service to the one to whom it is offered. Upon our baptism into Christ, our entire life is to be a continual sacrifice offered to the Lord to do His will. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:10). Christ is to animate our entire lives, directing our thoughts, words, and actions. We are to put His will first in every aspect of our lives - our marriage, raising our children, work, school, leisure and recreation, etc. To hold back any part of our life from God's service is to rob God.
It is possible for a man to rob God. Robbing God involves more than just closing up our pocketbook when the collection plate is passed. We can also deprive God of our praise and our service. Are you robbing God?