Introduction

Yesterday families all across America sat down to a meal and gave thanks for all that they have. Some saw each other for the first time in months as they traveled hundreds of miles to break bread with loved ones. Of course, now that holiday is over, there is inevitably leftovers. But suppose you started with those leftovers?

Better than the first?

When talking about leftovers from a Thanksgiving meal, people will dress it up to make it as good as, if not (sometimes) better than the original meal. Turkey will go into sandwiches with stuffing and cranberry relish. Or a casserole or stew will be made. Leftovers usually are plenteous to have enough food to last you through the weekend.

When talking about offerings to the Lord, people sometimes get in that frame of mind that leftovers are just as acceptable. Instead of giving firsts (their best they have to offer), they give seconds or even thirds.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi confronted the same problem. In chapter 1:6-14, Malachi writes concerning the offering of blemished animals for the sacrifice and defiled food on the altar. ‘Defiled’ does not have to mean deformed animals or (in the case of food) stale or moldy, but food that hasn’t been prepared properly or the animal, chosen, might have several spots on it. Much like Nadab and Abihu’s offering of strange fire upon the altar of the Lord in Lev. 10:1-2, the bread offering was polluted.

Here’s what the prophet writes in Mal. 1:6-7, “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, ‘Where is My honor?’ And if I am a Master, ‘Where is My reverence?’ Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the LORD is contemptible’.”

God Won’t Know the Difference

The mindset of the Jew in Malachi’s time was that of apathy and unconcern for their future. They knew that God wasn’t going to eat the offerings of the bread or the animals that were sacrificed so why go to such lengths of perfection? They assumed that God wouldn’t know if the bread had a little leaven in it, or that the lamb offered was blind.

Here’s what God said about this in verses 8-9, “‘And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

God, here, is saying that if you wouldn’t offer these kinds of sacrifices to your governor, they why would you offer them to me? The Jews no longer revered God; even after 70 years in captivity. They returned to their lackluster attitudes and made no effort to be pleasing to God. For that, God stopped speaking to them for 400 years.

Christians Today

Today, a lot of people treat their service to God in the same way.  Rather than getting to bed at a decent time on Saturday night, they’ll stay up late watching movies or playing video games and then drag themselves into the church building at the last minute for Bible study and worship. They’ll sit dozing throughout the service, half-awake and yet in their mind they declare, “Hey, at least I’m here!” Some will forego the bible class for an extra hour of sleep stating that the worship service is more important. Or some will even skip the morning service altogether and attend in the evening. Isn’t this the same thing as giving God the leftovers?

What did Paul say in regard to those in Corinth? …but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2 Cor. 8:5) Here, Paul says that the Corinthians gave of themselves first. It wasn’t enough to them to just show up, occupy a seat, and put money in the plate. They gave themselves as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) ready to do God’s Will without complaint.

Another example, in regards to the offering, they’ll give a few dollars. Normally there’s nothing wrong with that; especially if that’s all you can afford. But if you just purchased a luxury car, put a deposit down on an upcoming cruise, bought your spouse an expensive anniversary gift, you might think it’s acceptable to throw three dollars in the plate as that’s all you have left.

There is the example of giving God the leftovers; your focus was on treating self rather than putting God first. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:2, On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. In other words, set aside money for God first before you do anything else. If you have money for these luxuries, you have money to give to God.

Jesus said in Mt. 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Those expensive baubles won’t do you any good in going to heaven; neither will a large sum of money in the plate. Just use you best judgment and give God your best.

Conclusion

If you are not giving God your firstfruits, then you are giving Him the leftovers. Whether it is your attendance (Heb. 10:25), the collection (2 Cor. 9:7), or your attitude during the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:27-29); it should be a matter of importance not to take these things lightly and treat them as common.