Pick and Choose

Most of us recognize that rules are a way of life. If we agree with them, they're pretty easy to follow. If we don't, we try to figure out a way to manipulate them so that they have minimal impact on our way of life. When this manipulation occurs from those who should be setting an example, there are a host of attitudes that surface -- e.g., cynicism, frustration, and apathy.

In Malachi 2, God was disgusted with the religious leaders because they were not following the ways of God but had "shown partiality in matters of the law." They had added to the law (over 600 rules) and they had manipulated others (withholding support of family members claiming to provide for God and His temple). Jesus confronted a similar issue in Matthew 23:23 (NLT):

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

This message from God follows his call for the people to set their hearts to honor God. God's laws were put in place to protect his people, to benefit them, and to guide people to him -- to set them apart for him. Yet, the people were "breaking faith" with God and with others. They put on the semblance of being followers of God, but their heart was self-centered. They brought their offerings to God (v. 12 even though he brings offerings to the Lord Almighty) with weeping at the altar (v.13 you flood the Lord's altar with tears). But as they left the altar, their lives did not manifest change. They were violent toward their fellow man, divorced their wives, and misrepresented their offerings.

As I read this passage, I thought "the more things change, the more they remain the same." We manipulate God's law to fit our lifestyle. We bribe God -- adding "good deeds" to our balance so that we can feel better when we manipulate the rules. We're not fooling God.

Malachi has a theme through this chapter to challenge us:

1. Do not "break the faith."
2. Guard your heart.
3. Set your heart to honor God.

This really boils down to whether we see life being about us or about God. Jesus summed up the law for us by calling us to love God and to love others. Then, he fulfilled the law by being obedient to God and by dying for our sin -- our failure to keep the law. To complete the picture, he arose from death to give us life. We can follow God when Christ lives through us. When we focus on loving God and loving others, these other things will fall into place.