How long do you save your leftovers? They are good, for about a minute. Seemingly an excellent idea, their “use by” date passes quickly. Imagine going to the house of a friend who says, “You have a choice of last week’s leftovers.” Would you feel honored? Would you serve your leftovers to a friend? To the Governor? To God?
As Father of his people, God takes them to task by asking them why they give him the leftovers of their flocks. Saving the best for themselves, they offered the Lord blind, lame, and diseased animals on the altar. Their governor would not have received these animals in payment of taxes. So they gave them to God. Malachi, whose name means the messenger, says, “Close the temple doors and stop burning useless fires. Even the pagans know God’s name is great. How can his people offer him leftovers?”
Are we offering God our very best? At the end of a long year, have we saved the best for the One who loves our souls? Please don’t kill the messenger before he cleans out his refrigerator. What do my offerings to God say about my love for him? Today, we may give God our very best because when he redeemed the world he gave his very best, Jesus, his only Son.
