"A son honors his father, and servants their master. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name" (vs. 6).
Malachi the prophet has a message to the nation of Judah: You are not living up to your calling as God's people! In chapter 1, their halfheartedness is demonstrated through the lack of respect the worshipers are showing the Lord and His Name.
By way of a dialogue, Malachi rhetorically engages in a conversation with his opponents about their lack of respect toward God. The people apparently see nothing wrong with sacrificing less than their best. While "firstfruit" offerings typically represent the choicest ones available, the Jews are instead bringing blind, lame, sick or blemished animals instead. Keeping the best for themselves, they offer to God only what is diseased or broken. Malachi asks, Where is the respect in that attitude?
This same problem can still be found in the church today. When people donate their "junk" or slipshod work to the Lord, it betrays a lack of honor being shown to God. "Good enough for Who it's for" isn't something that should be said in reference to serving God. Malachi reminds us that we should all be mindful that our gifts to the Lord truly represent our best.
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