The Righteous serve God. The Wicked do not serve God. That is the only way we are given to discern which is which. Anyone can say “I serve God” but only God knows whether they do or not. As humans, the only way we can know is by observing what a person DOES, not by what they SAY.

The Righteous observe His Ordinance. The Wicked do not. The Ordinance in this context is that of The Tithe and The Offering.

Previously we have seen that the Wicked find it vain to serve God and raise stout objections to His Ordinance of Tithing and Offering, considering it worthless and without profit. The Righteous embrace His Ordinance and later come to find that their names are written in their Father’s personal Journal. 

The Tithe is a recurring test which holds up a mirror to every individual human being. Are you a son of God or a daughter of God or not? Who is your God, really? Is it your money? Your opinion? Your religion? Your Denomination? Yourself?

Will the Wicked be invited into Heaven? Can the Wicked even be a real Christian? Can the Wicked love God by NOT serving Him by NOT observing His Ordinance?

So, stop with your excuses and face the reality of your ultimate position. Examine your heart and your true relationship with your Father. Are you a member of His family, or not. Do you love your Father, or not? Do you seek to please your Father, or not? Will you rob your Father, or not.

One way you can know your own heart is by how you react to His Ordinance of The Tithe and The Offering. Joyfully and willingly? Or do you have an argument?

And they shall be mine. Who are “they”? The context has not changed. God is still talking about those who have kept his ordinance of the Tithe and the Offering.

Here the word “jewels” would be better translated as “special personal private possession”. One can imagine a man sitting at a table with an ornate treasure chest before him. He chooses a particular item and holds it lovingly in His hand. Holding it up to the light, he looks at it from all angles, studying it intently, before carefully setting it down to choose another one to look at and enjoy.

In the same way, God lovingly cherishes His special people whose names are written in His book of remembrance. He holds them up to the light before his eyes and thinks on them often. He takes great pleasure in them and will spare them, protecting them from harm.

Now the focus shifts back to “they that feared the Lord”. Those who were obedient to His ordinance of Tithing and Offering. They were speaking often one to another. They were excited about the Tithe and the Offering. As they thought upon the goodness of God, they encouraged each other and honored His name.

And God listened in on these conversations and was very pleased with what He heard. So much so, that he had their names written down in a special book of remembrance for Himself because they feared God and thought upon His name.

These were special to Him. They believed Him. They respected Him. They served Him. They were joyful. They obeyed his ordinance. They had earned a place in His heart. He would honor them and protect them and bless them. He could never forget them. Their names are written in His personal journal.

The Tithers and Offerers are confused and even mystified.

They see those who arrogantly disregard the ordinance of the Tithe and the Offering being called happy. Though they continue to work this wickedness, they seem to be prospering. Though they tempt God, they appear to be delivered from punishment.

What they didn’t understand is that rejecting God’s direction rarely brings an immediate consequence. God has given us a free will and the ability to make our own choices. He has told us what the correct choice is. If we then make the wrong choice a consequence is waiting down the road somewhere.

For the moment, it might seem that the disobedient are doing fine. They appear prosperous and happy – but they are on their own.

When push comes to shove; when the storms and floods come; when the chips are down and there is famine in the land, who can they turn to? Will Government be their God and save them?

Finally, the complainers reveal what their REAL problem is with the Tithe and the Offering. They view it as senseless, foolish, ineffectual, futile, without any real significance, value, or importance to serve God by keeping His ordinance.

Note that these complainers are referring to one particular ordinance they don’t like. The ordinance of the Tithe and the Offering. Going further, they ask “what profit is there for us in doing this?” Rather than joyfully doing what God has prescribed – they have done it grudgingly and mournfully, if at all.

Though they recognized that they were serving God by Tithing and Offering, they were not receiving the profit from it that they expected because they were doing their “service” mournfully, not joyfully.

God has provided man with a concrete way to know when he is serving God. He is then given the opportunity to be able to serve God through the ordinance of the Tithe and the Offering. That word “serve” will show up again soon in an even stronger context.

Previously in Malachi 3, the subject has been the Tithe and the Offering. And, God has not changed the subject by pointing out that “Your words have been stout against me”.  Words about what? Obviously words and arguments against the Tithe and the Offering.

God says that these arguments concerning the Tithe are stubborn, forceful and vigorous and are spoken against Him. Yet they say “What have we spoken against You?” We’re just against the Tithe and the Offering. We don’t want there to be abundant provision in your house. We want everything for ourselves.

Do a search for “tithe” with your favorite search engine. Virtually every web site located is presenting another argument AGAINST the Tithe. Why is that? Because it is in Satan’s best interests to keep the Church (God’s own people) poor and dependent on the world’s system.

Again, envision a farmer who has been convinced by someone that it is wrong, even sinful, to plant seed. Would that someone be his friend or would he be the cause of that farmer’s hunger and dependency on others?