Read Malachi 3:8-10

Robbing God

The people of Malachi’s day had a serious problem: they were not taking seriously their offering to God. While it is important to do the right things, it is just as important to put thought into it and do it with sincerity and the proper motivation.

God points out that the offerings of the people are defiled. “‘And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be please with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:8). The point is clear: if a lesser authority (the governor) would not accept your offering, on what grounds would you expect the ultimate authority (God Himself) to accept it?

God says through His prophet, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). The people were not robbing God by taking something away from Him, but rather by not giving in the way that He had commanded. Brother Guy N. Woods said, “God is never satisfied with partial, or incomplete, service.” We cannot obey Him partially.

The question may be asked, “Does God expect us to do more than we are able?” The answer to that is a resounding, “No!” However, we should not underestimate how much we are able to do or give! Consider the example of the saints in Macedonia, who despite “their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2). Paul wrote of them, “For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing” (2 Corinthians 8:3).

God issued a challenge to the people through Malachi. “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10).

Do you believe the Lord can bless you? Do you trust Him enough to let Him bless you?