God Remembers Those Who Serve Him
VBC Albuquerque · Oct 8, 2023
This sermon addresses the people's question about the futility of serving God as recorded in Malachi 3:13-18. God responds that He remembers and treasures those who genuinely love, fear, and serve Him, promising them eternal blessing. The sermon encourages church members that each member is essential and important in the body of Christ.
The opening section presents the main theme of the sermon regarding the people's question in Malachi's time: what benefit comes from serving God if one does not receive material blessings? The book of Malachi was written during a dark period of God's chosen people when harvests failed, the economy collapsed, and both the people and priests despised God's name. The people viewed serving God as futile and a waste of effort because it brought no material benefit. This thinking stemmed from an economic worldview: work for profit, if there is no profit then do not work. This was a transactional approach to serving God rather than one motivated by love and gratitude.
The second section develops the theological argument about the true value of serving God compared to the temporary benefits of earthly life. The sermon states that Scripture teaches two most important decisions in life: accepting Christ as Savior and living according to God's teachings. These decisions have eternal value compared to temporary earthly choices. Rather, the sermon introduces the concept of talents—what God entrusts to people including material possessions, abilities, time, and opportunities. In contrast to the thinking of the people in Malachi's time, King David willingly contributed to building the temple out of gratitude and love for God, not for material advantage.
The third section presents God's response regarding His remembrance of those who fear and serve Him. Alongside those who claim that serving God is futile, there are those who fear God and speak with one another about the honor and blessing of serving Him. God listens attentively to these pleasing words and writes their names in a book of remembrance. God calls those who genuinely love and serve Him "My special possession" and "treasured property." On the day God acts, the difference between the righteous who serve God and the wicked will become evident.
The fourth section applies the message to the practical life of today's church. The sermon emphasizes that the Church is the body of Christ, consisting of many members, each needing the others and having their own role and responsibility. Every person is necessary and important, not just leaders but all members must work together for the benefit of the body. A unified and loving church glorifies God's name, but a divided church with jealousy and conflict dishonors God. The sermon concludes that the faithful spiritual life of believers is the most important element of the Gospel message, and God does not require great acts of service but small acts performed with love.