When we aren’t rewarded for our religious efforts, we tend to think our devotion is in vain. Our obedience should not be used as a bargaining tactic to get what we want.

Malachi 3:13-18

¹³ “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ ¹⁴ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ¹⁷ “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Rebellious People (3:13-15)

God says you speak hard words against Him when you say:

1. It is vain to serve God.
2. What profit is there in serving God?
3. Evildoers prosper and God lets them escape.

• The people thought it was vain to serve God because they did not understand and know God.
• God does not bless improper attitudes and wrong motives.
• God’s silence and longsuffering should not be taken as approval of evildoers; judgment is coming.

Faithful Remnant (3:16-18)

• The faithful remnant fears the Lord and esteems God’s name.
• The faithful remnant is God’s treasured possession and he spares them.
• God draws a distinction between the righteous and the wicked.