Read this passage from the book of Malachi very slowly, and with emotion,

Mal 1:6  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

Mal 1:8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

— Malachi 1: 6-8

Have you ever been in a position of leadership of others, and feel that you have not been properly acknowledged.  Or that you are despised?

How would you feel?

If the results of your leadership are good, than you surely must feel slighted, as God does in this passage because the people are not respecting what He did for them under His leadership.   The people ask how God’s name was despised and verse 7 clearly states how the slight was done.

Mal 1:7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

— Malachi 1:7

Ponder this carefully because it is important for your leadership that you are able to identify when your group has contempt for you, especially in fruitful times.  As Malachi states in verse 8, would you do this to the governor?  Show respect to the property authority in the right order.

A leader should earn, command, and demand respect from his followers, and the reason for highlighting this passage today is to showcase how so many things we deal with in our lives are discussed in the Holy Bible, and the Scriptures really are full of emotion – ALIVE.  If a person doesn’t read the Holy Bible slowly, it is entirely possible to miss all the situations that relate to our own lives.

Read it slow. Ponder it well.