05 May 2005 Devotion for Today "Stick'em Up, God!" Malachi 3:10

05 May 2005  Devotion for Today  “Stick’em Up, God!”  Malachi 3:10

 

            A little boy was chastised by his mother for taking the largest piece of pie at the dinner table. “Son. Why did you take the largest piece of pie and leave the smaller pieces for our company?” she asked. “I’m sorry, Mom,” her son replied. “Which piece would you have taken?” “I would have taken the smallest piece,” she answered.  “Well Mom,” the little boy said with a smile that covered his face, “it’s still there!”

            Often our lack of faith causes us to take the biggest pieces for ourselves and leave the smallest pieces for God.  

            Although the Mosaic Law remained in effect for 15 centuries, from the time of Moses to the time of Christ’s death at Calvary, the people often ignored, defied, or buried it.  When their spiritual life was low, their giving fell off, and when they were spiritually revived, their giving rose again.God sent prophets, such as Malachi, to warn them about their backslidings and invite them to return to Him. With their return, God promised to meet them in reconciliation.  “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings.”  Malachi 3:10
            I want us to ask ourselves this question this morning…and it is only between us and God……are we robbing God?…are we robbing God by failing to bring our tithes and offerings to the designated place at the designated time?…or can we feel confident that we are obeying the Lord?

            It is true, tithing helps the church. As the church, we are commissioned by Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the Gospel.  Money is needed to pay for the upkeep of the building, to basically just keep the lights on and the air conditioning going, to pay employees, to support missionaries, and to carry out countless other expenses associated with ministry. A tithing church will be able not only to pay its bills but also to expand its outreach.
            Yes, tithing makes good sense. But God also gives a caution to those of us who reject His call for proportionate giving. “Will a man rob God?” The verb “rob” here literally means “to cover” and thus to defraud and steal. “Robbing God” means keeping back from God what rightfully belongs to Him.  When we withhold what is rightfully His, we in effect say “Stick’em up, God!”   Who would want to put themselves in a position like that?   Wise Christians will faithfully and honestly face this a Scriptural caution against God’s judgment. We must be aware that our tithe belongs to the Lord.
            Tithing is not only a command from God, but it is also one of the opportunities He offers us as His adopted children.  Tithing is good business. When we tithe, we go into business with God. He becomes our partner. Now it isn’t 50-50, or even 90-10…
…because God owns everything, and we are allowed to give 10 percent back to Him.
In return, God promises to pour out a blessing. The money we give to God is not lost.
We will see it again. We will see it in lives that are changed, in souls that are saved, in mouths that are fed, in pews that are filled.  The biggest beneficiary of consistent, methodical giving is yourself, myself.  We develop a sense of inner integrity which only   God alone can know……and that is the deepest satisfaction of all!!!

“Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not.”  My Old Testament Professor used to joke: “Abel brought the Lord Filet Mignon……Cain brought the Lord some old broccoli.”
            What are we bringing God?   Have a blessed day!

 

 

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net

 

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