“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/

Malachi 3:8… “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbedMe! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”  (NKJV)

Now I would be reasonably sure that no Christian would purposely rob God…  And yet, unless we give God what is rightfully His first, out of our finances and other resources…this is exactly what we are doing…

The concept for many people about what it means to tithe…is a hard concept to understand…  And yet if God’s Word is understood as nothing but the truth (which it should be by every Christian, right down to the last jot and tittle – Matthew 5:18), we are indeed robbing God…if we neglect to give back what will please God, from what He has given to us in the way of our finances and our other resources…

Some say we shouldn’t be concerned with what God tells us in the Old Testament…  They believe that the New Testament makes the Old Testament null and void…  For the Christian, Jesus and the New Covenant did changed the way believers are to live…  Christians are no longer under the Law, but now live under God’s grace…   

Ephesians 2:7-9… that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in Hiskindness toward us in ChristJesus. ⁸   For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (NKJV)

The Law became what God now uses, to show unredeemed sinners that they are in need of God’s saving grace, because they cannot fulfill the Law…Romans 3:20… Therefore by the deeds of the lawno flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul gives a good explanation of this, in…Romans 8:1-5…  Here is the link for this scripture… http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom8:1-5&version=NKJV;KJV

The Old Testament explains the tithe (meaning 1/10^th, in…Genesis 28:22…Numbers 18:26); and that all of it belongs to God, in…Leviticus 27:30, 32…  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holyto the Lord.  ³² And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenthone shall be holyto the Lord.  (NKJV)

As a matter of fact, it is God that gives us all that we have…Ecclesiastes 5:19…&…1 Chronicles 29:16…  I know many Christians who tithe…  They give God 1/10th of their income…  It’s not a question about paying the bills first…and then if there is anything left over, they give God a portion of what’s left…  God gets at least 10% of their income first, no questions asked… 

This is done because of their faith in the truth of God’s Word…  Many of us are familiar with this wise teaching Proverb, written by Solomon…  Proverbs 3:5-6…  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your ownunderstanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  (NKJV) 

But how many people understand and obey Solomon’s writing just a few verses later, in…Proverbs 3:9-10… Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.  (NKJV)

And how many people know that God dares us to test Him about tithing ??   Just after the opening scripture, we find God’s test, in…Malachi 3:10… Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And tryMe now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pourout for you suchblessing That there willnot be room enough to receive it.  (NKJV)

I don’t know of a single person who tithes, who won’t verify that what God tells us about tithing in His Word is true…  Think about it…  Does God lie ??  Certainly not !! 

And then we see more than once in the Bible, that we reap what we sow, starting in…Genesis 26:12… Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year ahundredfold; and the Lordblessed him.  (NKJV)

Galatians 6:7-8… Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spiritwill of the Spirit reapeverlasting life.  (NKJV)

And then we have this scripture, which is perhaps the best know about giving, in…2 Corinthians 9:6-7… But this I say: He who sowssparingly will also reapsparingly, and he who sowsbountifully will also reapbountifully. ⁷ So leteach one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for Godloves a cheerful giver.  (NKJV)

Many will use this scripture to cut back on what they give to the Lord, if they aren’t able to give much…  They feel that God wouldn’t want them to give to Him, if they just don’t have the money…  For sure God wants us to give out of our love for Him, with pure motives…  But God truly knows exactly what each one of us should be giving in regards to our finances, as well as of our time and our other resources…  And God wants us to have faith in Him that He will provide for the needs of His obedient children…

I personally believe that we cannot out give God…  The Apostle Paul continues on with these words he penned, in…2 Corinthians 9:8… And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having allsufficiency in all things,may have an abundance for every good work.  (NKJV)

We need to place our faith in the Lord that His promises will be kept…  Why not take God up on His test, as recorded in Malachi, “And tryMe now in this”…  God promises to “pourout for you suchblessing That there willnot be room enough to receive it”…

Heavenly Father…without faith, it is impossible to please You…Hebrews 11:6…  Help all of us Lord, not to be greedy or selfish, when it come to giving back to You from our finances…as well as from our time and our other resources…  Help us to understand that we should be placing our faith in You above all else…  I pray that all of us will freely and cheerfully give back to You what is right in Your sight…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen… 

Blessings in Christ,  bruce r mills