Select a Ring of Truth daily devotion online
Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
Select the date to display the devotion for:
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My House. Test Me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
God invented money and wealth.
It was not something Satan or man came up with in order to frustrate the purposes of God. Neither is it some evil thing that good Christians should neither possess nor know anything about. Did you know all money is neutral – it is amoral? It is neither good nor evil. It only reflects our morals, values and attitudes.
Tithing was started by Abraham and continued with Jacob long before it became a requirement under the Law of Moses. That’s important because it was not initially given out of duty but out of love and respect. It was given voluntarily. The problem with duty is that it becomes a chore; annoying, and in the end something we try and avoid. Then we rationalise our reasons for not doing it and try to justify our decision to salve our conscience.
The Jews didn’t have to tithe before they came out of Egypt. They were saved first and then given the Law, which was designed to bless them – but it ended up bringing a curse through their independence and rebellion.
Here, God was trying to bring the people back – not so much to pay Him what He deserves – but to place themselves back under His protection and blessing. Children who stay home with their parents get a roof over their heads, food, clothes washed (and sometimes ironed), protection and a share in the parent’s prosperity. (Even after having to contribute to the food bill through ‘board’, the equation is usually stacked in their favour - “Amen”, say all the parents.) Those who leave home find out what a tough and hard world it can be. (That’s why they keep coming back.)
The Christian life is not easy but if you want to enjoy its blessings to the full, you have to be “Sold out for Jesus”. Most moaning Christians haven’t made that choice.
Listen, God isn’t stupid. He knows that He cannot entrust big things to us until we have been faithful in the small things. As we saw at the beginning of the month in Haggai – if we don’t tithe, all sorts of things go ‘wrong’ – yet all sorts of things go ‘right’ when we do.
God actually wants to bless you and your family so much that other people get jealous. Because He loves you. He wants you to be so blessed you cannot contain it. He wants that for your nation, too.
The principle is just the same. You cannot out-give God. He created everything in the first place and has already entrusted to you all you have.
Why wait? Why even debate the issue?
Go on “test” Him – just as He challenges you through the words of Malachi.
Don’t forget – the “Storehouse” is your local church – where you get ‘fed’.
Download the above Ring of Truth devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
