The "M" Word Series

It’s like the little child jumping into the water over her head. “Daddy, will you catch me?” “Of course! I won’t let you drown!” Her father loves her and so she jumps. Is the Lord any different? Will he let you drown? Will he not catch you in the deep water?

4. Giving brings a blessing

A final principle from Malachi: giving brings a blessing (10b-12).

God doesn’t just command us to tithe so that we will listen to him and obey. He does it because that is the way of blessing for us.

Returning to the child jumping in the pool. She’s not jumping just because Daddy said so. She’s jumping because she knows all the joy of swimming that the others have. She wants to enter into that fun in the pool. She’s missing out.

Friends, by holding back from God, we miss out on the joy, on the blessings that we could receive. Read with me 3:10b….

Do you see the blessing here? Now don’t misunderstand – tithing and stewardship doesn’t mean you get rich – God will provide for your needs. We have a lot of things that are really not what we need. God knows what are our essentials and provides for us.

1. Growth in faith.

As we trust in God, and he DOES provide, our faith blossoms and grows as never before. We entrust our lives and resources even more into God’s hands and see his bless. He is a good Father and we learn again and again to trust Him.

2. God will not let us go under in hard times.

The Lord tells us in verse 11: “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear.” When there are years like this one with a drought and the crops seem to fail, God says that he will still provide. God will fight our battles for us.

When you get sick and the bills start piling sky high, the Lord promises that he will not let you go under. He will be your provider.

3. We can live without fear and worry.

And this carries into the next blessing – no fear or worry. We spend so much time scraping by trying to survive and God says, just tithe and your needs will be met. You won’t have to worry and fear. You don’t need to spend your days in stress over your bills. Entrust them to the Lord and know that he will work things out. Matthew 6:28-30…

4. It will be a testimony.

Malachi 3:12 tells us “Then all nations will call you blessed.” Do you see what happens? As our needs are provided for in miraculous ways, others see that and wonder what is going on. How is it possible? And it opens doors to give glory not to your own ingenuity in financial planning and investment, but to point to the giver of all good things. We serve a great God!

Closing story: "The Rich Family in Our Church"