Imagine with me this sight: a beautifully manicured field, the quiet wind blowing, and trees surrounding the area. A short fence encircles the field, and every few feet, you see a marble cross bearing the name, rank, combat details, birthdate, and date of passing of a serviceman or servicewoman. These men and women are honored, not because of their names or family heritage, nor because of where they lived, but because of what they were faithful to: the United States of America.

There is a day I will never forget from 15 years ago, back when I was a young youth pastor. A church whose pastor had died suddenly asked for help. A plea went out to our fellowship of pastors to join the service. About 40-50 pastors gathered in this little church. We filled the stage and choir loft, singing "Victory in Jesus." We followed the casket to the cemetery and then to his final resting place. I don't remember this man's name, but I remember why we gathered: to honor him for being a faithful servant of God.

These stories are about faithful individuals, remembered not for their personal attributes but for what they were faithful to. In today's passage, Malachi 3:6-7, Malachi reminds us of God's faithfulness and points out where the people were lukewarm in their faithfulness.

God's Unchanging Faithfulness

Malachi begins by stating a profound truth: God is faithful. Let's explore how God demonstrated His faithfulness to the people of Israel.

God Keeps His Covenants

God's faithfulness is evident in His covenants. He made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, known as the Abrahamic covenant, promising that they and their descendants would be His people, with land and blessings involved. God has always kept His end of the bargain, as Malachi 3:6-7 states: "For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob." God's unchanging nature ensures that the sons of Jacob are not consumed because He keeps His promises.

God Holds Us Accountable

God's faithfulness also manifests in holding us accountable. He recognized that the people were not living up to His standards and did not simply overlook it. He sent Malachi to preach and remind the people of their need for God's grace and a second chance.

The Faithfulness of Israel

However, the Israelites were more faithful to themselves than to God. Let's examine their faithfulness in terms of ownership, responsibility, accountability, and opportunities.

Lack of Ownership

The priests and leaders of Israel took ownership of the land but merely went through the motions regarding God and worship, rather than taking full responsibility for their personal relationships with God. They followed their fathers' legacy rather than being faithful in their present actions. They were more faithful to themselves than to God.

Lack of Responsibility

Each generation must take responsibility for its faithfulness. Just as every generation in American history has fought for freedom, each generation of Israelites needed to take responsibility for their faithfulness. Malachi's audience failed in this regard, being more faithful to themselves than to God.

Ignoring Accountability

The Israelites also struggled with ignoring accountability. They did not even recognize their wrongdoing or accountability to anyone, failing to understand the system of worship God had given them. They were more faithful to themselves than to God.

Missing Opportunities

Finally, the Israelites missed opportunities due to their unfaithfulness. They missed out on blessings and opportunities to be a testimony to God. They were more faithful to themselves than to God.

Faithfulness in Our Lives

We, too, struggle with being more faithful to ourselves than to God. Let's consider how we can address this issue.

Taking Ownership

Each person must accept Christ as their personal Savior and take ownership of their faith. Joshua took ownership of his faith, declaring, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Taking ownership involves committing our lives to God and seeking personal spiritual nourishment beyond Sunday sermons.

Being Responsible

Each generation must be faithful and take responsibility for its faithfulness. We are called to be disciple-makers, so we must actively engage in discipleship and steward our resources for God's glory.

Recognizing Accountability

We must realize that we are all accountable to God. Malachi's message was a reminder of accountability, and we must heed it, recognizing that our faithfulness to God is paramount.

Embracing the Reward

Living a faithful life brings joy, blessings, and a deeper relationship with God. While we should not expect material rewards, the spiritual benefits of faithfulness are immeasurable.

Conclusion: Who Are You Faithful To?

There are two challenges today: Who are you more faithful to, yourself or God? If you struggle with faithfulness to God, remember to:

1. Take ownership of your faith.

2. Be responsible for your spiritual growth.

3. Recognize your accountability to God.

4. Embrace the spiritual rewards of a faithful life.

"Try Me now in this," says the Lord (Malachi 3:10). Let's commit to being faithful to God and experience the blessings that come from a life devoted to Him.

Small Group Questions

1. Reflect on Faithfulness: How do you personally define faithfulness? Can you share an instance where someone's faithfulness made a significant impact on your life?

2. God’s Unchanging Nature: Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I do not change." How does understanding God's unchanging nature influence your trust in Him?

3. Personal Accountability: In what ways do you feel God is holding you accountable in your daily life? How do you respond to this accountability?

4. Faithfulness to God vs. Self: Reflecting on the sermon, what are some areas in your life where you struggle to be faithful to God rather than to yourself?

5. Taking Ownership of Faith: What steps can you take to take more ownership of your faith journey? How can you encourage others in your small group to do the same?

6. Generational Faithfulness: How can we ensure that faithfulness to God is passed down through generations in our families and church community?

7. Experiencing Rewards of Faithfulness: Share a time when you felt the spiritual rewards of being faithful to God. How did this experience strengthen your faith?

If you want to learn more about living in true faithfulness, Shepherd Thoughts exists to help you live out your faith. If you or a friend needs support or resources to love God and love others more, please reach out to us today. We’d love to help.