Malachi 2:17- 3:12

Be Still: Lord, quiet my heart. Let me hear your still small voice speaking words of life to me. Holy Spirit, I welcome your presence with me now. 

Read: Malachi 2:17- 3:12 

Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. (v8)

Encounter: Money is something that we deal in every single day. We pay it out and we work to receive it. Money can rule over our lives toxically in two different ways: it can be a measure and it can be a treasure. As a measure it can be our source of worth and value. As a treasure it can become an idol. As Jesus puts it, 'The love of money is the root of all evil.' From God’s perspective though, money itself is not inherently evil. It is a tool to build God’s kingdom.

In this passage, we see how keeping tithes and offerings back from God is like robbing him. ‘Tithe’ is an old-fashioned word meaning 10%. Offerings are gifts given over and above that. When we keep them both from God, we rob him because it keeps God from furthering his kingdom in us and through us. 

In keeping tithes and offerings back, we are robbing ourselves of God’s blessing in our lives. When we are obedient, however, and give freely of our tithes and offerings we see how God will 'throw open the floodgates of heaven.' We will find we cannot out-give God. 

Apply: Everything I have (the 10% and the 90%) belongs to God. If I have need, I must ask him to provide and trust we will come through. How can I use my finances more wisely to further God’s Kingdom? How can I trust him fully?

Devote: Lord, forgive me when I’ve not given to you freely as you have called me to. Free me of the love of money. May my treasure be found in you alone and not in the things of this world.