How to be Blessed

O. T. #2356 "How to be Blessed"

Jan. 11, 2023

Malachi 3-Part 7

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith saith the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (verse 10)

LET IT GLOW

What have you given lately? Have you provided a meal for the hungry? Have you phoned the sick one to encourage them? Have you given your tithes faithfully? Are you sharing love to those who feel unloved? Sunday, I was almost walking on cloud nine as I went to give an offering to the foreign missionaries in our denomination. My heart was blessed that I was able to give and bless those who share the Truth and love of God around the world. How about you? (Not said to toot my horn, but as an illustration of yesterday's post.)

How did Israel rob God? By not giving their tithe to God which they owed. Let's do some more reviewing, for this is a big deal, an important way for the Christian to show their love for God. 

The payment of tithes and offerings was a recognition of their submission to God, and a recognition that God owned them and all that they had. Failure to recognize the sovereignty of God and be in subjection to Him, was the same sin of Lucifer. Since God's love had bestowed upon them in choosing them for His own. (1:2-3) The whole nation did not recognized its obligation (Falwell)

What was the result of this sin? They would be cursed, robbing themselves of blessings. Their crops  failed, resulting in a lack of harvest and famine,  (3:11) and they wondered why it happened. Hmm.

Malachi urged the people to stop holding back their tithes to stop keeping from God what He deserved.  

LET IT GROW

What has God instructed the Jews to do? Bring all the tithes into the storehouse. Their first-fruits were the corn, wine, and oil. (Deut. 18:4) There the priests and Levites had their food from this source. 

The word tithe means tenth; prove refers to test, to investigate, in the Hebrew.

What is the result of our tithing? God will open the windows of heaven and poor out a blessing so great that you won't have enough room to take it in! God challenges them and us to test Him. Crops will be abundant, for He will guard them from insects and disease. Grapes won't fall off the vines before they are ripe, too. 

The important thing is that all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight, Israel.

How significant it is to follow God's standards and ordinances. 

In 1 Corinthians 16:2, we are told, Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.

What does Paul instruct us to do? On Sunday, the Lord's Day, all of us are to lay aside systematically, the proportionate (1/10) as God has given. 

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 8:6-7)

The challenges are: Are we tithing to God in the church? Are we giving it cheerfully? Not only monetarily, but do we give our time, skills, spiritual gifts, and love of Jesus? Are we praising god and thanking Him for what He has given to us?

Corrie Ten Boon learned to not hold things too tightly, for when God required it, it would be easy to give.

LET IT GO

I choose to praise and glorify the name above all name, Jesus.

You are so faithful, loving, giver.

Help us remain faithful in giving all things.

Bless those who give faithfully week after week.