Honest Reflections on Malachi 3:6-15 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house [the LORD]. And thereby put Me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (vs. 10) Does our stewardship with money reveal what we truly believe about God? Do our expenses in our budget, tell how much God is worth to us? Does our tithe reveal how much we love and trust God? It would seem, based on this passage, that the answer to those three questions is indeed in the affirmative. The LORD begins by pointing to His unchanging character and to His covenant promises that He will be faithful to keep, before He confronts them of this matter. For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed (vs. 10). What a reminer, that we never need to worry, that any of Gods choices or acts, will ever be inconsistent with His character, as has been revealed to us in His Word. Arent you glad for that! The culture we live in, may change over time, along with its belief and value system, but not God! He remains the same, in terms of who He is and what He supports or does not support. Might we remember that, trust in that, and even resolutely stand firm in that, while facing the controversial topics of our day and age, that would like nothing better than to reconfigure who God is and what He stands for. What God has revealed in the past, regarding what He approves or dissaproves of, He has not changed His mind on that matter, for just consinder what Jesus thought of marriage and divorce in Matthew 19:1-12 as proof of this. The LORD brings this incredible statement up, though, to make a point how unlike Him, His people have changed in terms of their covenant faithfulness to Him, especially so in terms of their tithing. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts (vs. 11). What an incredible and refreshing assurance the Lord gives to His people, about His redeeming love for them! Return to Him, and He will return to you! WOW! Our God is rich in love and mercy, gracious and compassionate, ready to forgive! Arent you thankful! In what way specifically, though, has Gods people strayed away from Him? Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me. But you say, How have we robbed You? In your tithes and contributions (vs. 8-9). Can you imagine, hearing God accuse you, of robbing Him? What does that say, then, about our possessions and the money that has been entrusted to us? That everything we have, belongs first and foremost to God, and He has entrusted it all to us as a stewardship of grace. All of life, one might say, is a stewardship of grace! Paul would make this very clear, when he said, What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not recieve it (1 Cor 4:7)? What convicting questions, that rightfully bring us back to reality, and remind us who truly is the owner of it all: the Lord Almighty! The earth is the LORDs and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers (Ps 24:1-2; cf. Deut 10:14). This is what tithing reverntly and cheerfully acknowledges, even thanks God for! Tithing is an solemn act of worship, that says, All that I have is Yours, O God! Here is just a small portion of all that You have blessed me with! Take it, along with me, for Your Kingdom and glory! Tithing ought not be considered as paying our dues so that we can remain in good standing with the church or God. Nor should it be given begrudgingly, as if to say, if I have to, here it is, Lord! Im sure the LORD is just thrilled to receive that kind of offering! Nor is the LORD thrilled about receiving the kind of offering His people were bringing Him, or more properly said, the offering they were withholding from Him! He tells them they are cursed for this, then He says to them: Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house [Temple]. And thereby put Me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (vs. 10) Its as though God is saying, Stop withholding the full tithe and trust Me with your wellbeing, even as you faithfully bring your offering to Me! Isnt it true, that one of the primary reasons we skimp in our tithing, or give begrudgingly sometimes, is because we are more concerned about our wellbeing and how we can provide for ourselves, or what we can obtain to make us happy, rather than being consumed with an all consuming passion for the glory of God and His work, with a heart that fully trusts in His benevolent love? But the real question is: Was it ever ours to control and provide for, to begin with? Was it ever our place to assume the position of God, and rely solely on our own means and abilities to provide for ourselves, and we will give God the leftovers? Where is our faith, where is our treasure, if we make it our goal in life to live comfortabely and securely financially speaking, rather than giving our everything to the the glory of the One who gave it all to us in the first place, even our salvation? The apostle Paul had to say this, about the kind of generous hearts we ought to be cultivating, to the Kingdom of God: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Cor 9:6-12) God loves a cheerful giver! Does that describe us? Are we trusting in His all sufficient grace, and that He will be abundantly faithful to provide for our every need, as we entrust our wellbeing to Him and give ourselves to His Kingdom work? Do we understand that everything we have, He has supplied, for the furthering of His Kingdom and and glory, not our own? Do we understand the kind of rippling effects this has on others, as we bear testimony of Gods generous love, even through our generosity in our tithing? Wow, how that changes everything! This rings in accord with what the LORD tells His people, that they will be blessed if they render to Him the full tithe that is His, even as they entrust their wellbeing to His benevolent care! Might we be that kind of people! Might our lives be marked by generosity for the Kingdom of God! Might our tithing be an expression of our deep love and adoration for the God who gave His very best for us, His own Son, so that in Him we might have eternal life. Might our giving be complimented with a cheerful heart that trusts in the all sufficient grace of our God, who does indeed supply for our every need, so we have no reason to fear or worry! Might we be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us! Might we then anticipate, the kind of impact this will have, on a watching and perishing world, when they see God bless our faith in Him, even as He will do for them! Question. What does your money, schedule, possessions, resources, and every facet of your life, say about your love, trust, and gratefulness for Jesus? What can you start doing differently today, to render the full tithe that belongs to the LORD? How does your mind need to be renewed in terms of how you view your belongings, even your life, in terms of what you learned today? Prayer. O Father, to You alone be the glory! For all things are Yours, and yet You have set apart a people as your prized possession, for your glory and fame. And You did so not because we deserved it, but because of Your own grace and love for us. Take my life, take my possessions, take my money, and use it all for the furthering of Your Kingdom and glory. Forgive me for the sinful tendencies of my heart, that are more concerned about my personal security and comfort, and what I can do for myself, rather than You. Change me and make me like Jesus. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:11:31 +0000
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