Robbing God
Malachi 3:6-10 (NLT)
“I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
Reflection
The name Malachi means “Messenger of God”. Through Malachi, the message God delivered to the Israelites was clear: return to serving the Lord, and He would return to them. And what did they need to do to “return to God”? They needed to obey His commands, to include tithing.
According to the Bible, members of the tribe of Levi could not own land, therefore, they could not grow crops to sustain themselves. Many of the Levites served as priests in the Temple. Some did construction and maintenance in the Temple, and others sang and played instruments or served as guards. Part of the tithe from the other tribes went to support the Levites. But since the people were not tithing, the Levites were neglecting their God given responsibilities to serve in the Temple and were working to support themselves. This did not bode well with God!
Isn’t it the same with us? Part of our tithe goes to support our church, our local community, our “tribe”, so to speak. And when we tithe, we can expect the same abundant blessing from God that He promised the Israelites. God said to put Him to the test! Malachi 3:10 is the ONLY verse in the Bible where God invites His creation to test Him! But by doing this, God was emphasizing how serious He was for His people to give of their resources to advance His kingdom, a principle that is as true today as it was in the Old Testament.
Maybe it is time for us to put God to the test. If we give to God freely and cheerfully that which is owed to Him, He will bless us abundantly!
Action Steps
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with an abundance of riches. I want to serve You. I want more than anything to be obedient to You, and to do what You expect of me. Help me to do whatever I can spiritually, physically, and financially to advance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
“But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
Reflection
The name Malachi means “Messenger of God”. Through Malachi, the message God delivered to the Israelites was clear: return to serving the Lord, and He would return to them. And what did they need to do to “return to God”? They needed to obey His commands, to include tithing.
According to the Bible, members of the tribe of Levi could not own land, therefore, they could not grow crops to sustain themselves. Many of the Levites served as priests in the Temple. Some did construction and maintenance in the Temple, and others sang and played instruments or served as guards. Part of the tithe from the other tribes went to support the Levites. But since the people were not tithing, the Levites were neglecting their God given responsibilities to serve in the Temple and were working to support themselves. This did not bode well with God!
Isn’t it the same with us? Part of our tithe goes to support our church, our local community, our “tribe”, so to speak. And when we tithe, we can expect the same abundant blessing from God that He promised the Israelites. God said to put Him to the test! Malachi 3:10 is the ONLY verse in the Bible where God invites His creation to test Him! But by doing this, God was emphasizing how serious He was for His people to give of their resources to advance His kingdom, a principle that is as true today as it was in the Old Testament.
Maybe it is time for us to put God to the test. If we give to God freely and cheerfully that which is owed to Him, He will bless us abundantly!
Action Steps
- Take time this week to both review and pray about your financial situation. Do you feel God nudging you to change direction?
- If you are not tithing, ask God to help you take steps to walk in obedience. Decide first to cut out one expense in your life and redirect that money to God. Then keep up the momentum until you reach your goal!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with an abundance of riches. I want to serve You. I want more than anything to be obedient to You, and to do what You expect of me. Help me to do whatever I can spiritually, physically, and financially to advance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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