Teaching Notes

There are things that we value. Our time is one of those things? We would not want to waste our time on things that are worthless. What if God said to us, I will not waste my time on you, because you have made yourself worthless by your worship? That would not feel good at all. Aren't you thankful God is patient with us when we don't get things right? We are always valuable to God.

What are you Worth?

Malachi 1:6-8 (The Message)

"Isn't it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I'm your Father, where's the honor? If I'm your Master, where's the respect?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: "You priests despise me! "You say, 'Not so! How do we despise you?' "By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. "You ask, 'What do you mean, "defiling"? What's defiling about it?' "When you say, 'The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,' that's defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you're trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn't that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?" God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you.

Notes: Yesterday, we saw in part that God gave the people specific instructions on how to honor or worship him. They were to give offering based on God's requirement. In this scripture the people are being rebuke (or corrected). They are bringing worthless animals to God for their sacrifices. God is not pleased with this.

Question: What does it mean to have a defiled worship?

Answer: When God sets a standard of worship, it is not acceptable for us to change it or do as we feel. When we change worship or give what is of no value to God, it is considered defiled. In today's understanding, if God calls for you to come and yield yourself to him, he has a price or value set on you and he considers that acceptable. Yet, if you decide to do what you want and just give God "something of yourself" you are making your offering of yourself worthless.

Prayer: Lord help us understand their is a price attached to us. When we yield to you completely, you accept our offering. However, when we do not yield completely to you, our worship is defiled or worthless. Help us to be acceptable in your sight.