“Never come into the presence of the Lord without an offering, for God has blessed you with providence and provision,” Deuteronomy 16:16.
God granted His people with a great amount. Three times a year, all the people appeared “before the Lord your God at the place He will choose: at the festival of Unleavened Bread, the festival of Tabernacles, and the festival of Weeks. And no one should appear before the Lord Jehovah your God without an offering [empty-handed],” Malachi 3:6:12.
The people of Malachi’s day ignored God’s command to give the tithe and the offering of their income for the work of the Temple.
Many people said: ‘I’m not going to take care of a pastor; he can work just like I can. But do you not know that the work of God’s house is a full-time responsibility? No one cared to look at the blessings God promised, the need of the people, or seeing after the men of God. This was the attitude of the people towards God. If you don’t give, then why worship?
If you don’t give, then why are you praying? If you don’t give, then why are you on Morning Prayer with your Morning Covering? We should stop today if you are going to rob God. The focus of the people was selfish.
We worship God because He is God and deserves to be worshiped.
If you won’t live the life, then why worship? If you won’t honor God, then why pray? If you will not do His will, then why read the word? None of it makes sense.
Did people not remember that if you remain faithful to God (love, fear, honor and respect Him), God would openly bless you?
“I will open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land saith the Lord of hosts,” Malachi 3:10-12.
The Hebrew people would give back to God for all He made to let them use. They would give [support] the work of the kingdom to those who did the work. The priests gave the word of God, and the people trusted in the priests/pastors. The tithe was a covenant, a contract with God. This was not for personal gain but for the work of the kingdom.
We give for the work to be done; this is what we are devoted to do. This is Holy unto the Lord. It is the right attitude towards God—genuine trusting in God and His word. We must be inspired to give to God for the work to be harvested.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your hearts to give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for your God loves a cheerful giver,” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8.
God blesses us daily. It’s our opportunity and responsibility to give back to Him our tithe and offering. The more we honor God and our commitment to Him, we will begin to see the evidence of the glory of God in our lives. Remain covenantally committed.
