Malachi 3: 8/12
I want to talk to you about what God expects of us, as stewards of the things that He has given. Of all the things that God has given us, the number one thing that we are concerned about, and therefore God is concerned is our money. Now God doesn’t need our money, we do, but He is concerned about how WE handle it.
When it relates to money and our giving, there are four ways that we give. There is the tithe [the ten percent], then there is what is called first fruits, alms giving and the sowing of seed. So what does the bible has to say about tithing.
Some people say, “Don’t talk about money. Talk about something spiritual.” But Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” And then He says, “The love of money is the root of kinds of evil.” In other words, money can affect your spiritual life and your relationship with God.
While Jesus was on earth He gave us thirty-six parables and sixteen were about money. There are 2,300 references in the bible about money. God is concerned knowing that Satan is interested in your money. He will bait his hook with money to lure us if he can. So, in order to stay free not allowing Satan to create a stronghold in our lives, we must hold fast to the principles of God’s word that have been set forth.
When I read the text there is a word that jumps out at me. It’s the word ROB, “will a man rob God’ it is a strong word. God says the peopled of Israel robbed Him. And robbery is a serious charge; it’s mentioned in the Ten Commandments, thou shall not steal.
When we look at the text we see three different robberies in this passage – robbing God, robbing the church of resources, and robbing oneself of God’s blessings. The first one is the most important and leads to the two others. God uses the word ROB because everything belongs to Him. HE IS THE PRINCIPLE OWNER OF EVERYTHING. Tithing serves as a reminder that everything we have come from our Heavenly Father.
There are three different types of people who attend church each Sunday. The first group says, “I will share with God if I want to, you see it is my money.” The second says, “I will share with God because I have to [He said to give a tithe]. And the third says, “Everything belongs to God, so I will follow the principles of tithing, first fruits, alms giving and the sowing of seed.”
God in His wisdom tells us to return ten percent and that’s not an Old Testament Law. God put that in the heart of His people long before the Law was given. We read in the book of Genesis that Abram gave a tithe to Melchizedek king of Salem, He was priest of God Most. He gave a tenth of the spoils of war to the priest, for the continuation of God’s work.
We read that Jacob has a close encounter with God in a dream concerning giving. So we have Abraham commencing tithing and Jacob continuing the practice. Then Moses came along, and God gave him the Law. “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.”
And a few hundred years later, Malachi confirms tithing. And then Jesus commended it. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
So we see Abraham begins the principle to tithing, Jacob continued, Moses commanded, Malachi confirmed, and Jesus commended it. Tithing is the most basic act of thanksgiving to God. It is a privilege, not a duty.
Then in our text the Lord says, “Test me with your giving.” It is an issue of trust, that’s why I have called this message GOD’S TRUST FUND. The tithe is God’s way of blessing us. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty and see it I will not open the WINDOWS of heaven and pour out a blessings that you will not have room enough to receive it.”
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, says the Lord of hosts.”
When you acknowledge God in tithes, you are opening up the flood gates of heaven. You have to believe that you can achieve more with the ninety percent and God’s blessings, than with the total amount without His blessings. I’ve heard people say, “I can’t afford to tithe.” But the truth is you can’t afford not to tithe.
The tithe is the TRUST fund – the Lord is testing us. We can talk about financial freedom, but we will note free until we understand the principles of giving.
There are many places we can put our money. You can invest it in the stock market, properties, in food clothing. But the tithe must be invested in God’s storehouse for the work of the ministry. Now God does not need the money. “Every animal of the forest is mine, says the Lord and the cattle on a thousand hills.” But the storehouse remains empty if we fail to tithe.
The call of God is simple, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my HOUSE.” The storehouse refers to the Temple of God. It is the place where the people worshipped. Today it is where you are given the Word of God, and He calls us to support His ministry here on earth.
If we expect to see the windows of heaven opened we must first be faithful in our giving to the work of God. And when we do it faithfully and with a cheerful heart God will supply all of our need according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
When we obey the word of God, we have this promise that He will supply our needs. David said “I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread.”
When you place your hand on the knob of the door and turn it you have entrances to the room. So when you tithe you open the windows of heaven and God pours out His blessings. You can’t buy a blessing, but your act of faith in response to the word releases God’s favor and blessings.
There is a principle that remains true throughout the word of God, and here it is. When we obey the commands of the Lord, and walk in His word then He delights in fulfilling His plan. He told Israel if you heed my words and follow my instructions, that all the nations would call them blessed and they would have a delightful land.
So we must not rob God, for He is the principle of OWNERSHIP.
And don’t rob yourself of God’s blessings; this is the principle of TRUST. And giving the tithe is the principle of SUSTENANCE.
Remember, “You can’t beat God giving, no matter how you try. The more you give the more He give to you. So keep on giving because it really true. You can’t beat God giving, no matter how you try.
