Jun 4, 2023
Scripture Reading: Malachi 3:6-12
One of the sins of the Israelites in Malachi's time was the failure to give the tithes which the Mosaic law had prescribed. The law required that the Jews pay ten percent of their income/produce to the Levites and to the temple (Num 18:21-26; Deut 14:22-27). God justly accused the Israelites of Malachi's day of robbing Him (Mal 3:8,9).
Giving to the work of God is an important element in the life of a Christian. Though Paul does not mention giving ten percent of our income as an ongoing command, the New Testament does reveal principles that should govern our giving.
"On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come" (1 Cor 16:2). "Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"
(2 Cor 9:7).
We are to give regularly. "On the first day of every week . . ." As regular exercise is more beneficial to the body than exercising only once in a while, so regular giving is more spiritually beneficial to the soul.
We are to give individually. ". . . each of you is to put something aside . . ." The responsibility to give to the Lord’s work belongs to every one of us, regardless of economic status.
We are to give proportionally. ". . . as he may prosper . . ." Some proportion is suggested in this phrase. The more one has, the more he should give.
We are to give deliberately. "Each one must give as he has made up his mind . . ." Giving should be planned, prayerful, thoughtful, budgeted, and not impulsive.
We are to give willingly. ". . . not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." The God who owns all things does not lack for resources. He wants our hearts, so He does not want us to give anything that is not offered willingly.
The motive for giving comes from a realization of the effects it has on our souls. God does not need our money, but we have the need to give to Him.
First, giving produces humility. In giving to the building of the temple in the Old Testament, David declared, "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you" (1 Chr 29:14).
Second, giving produces joy. "Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly" (1 Chr 29:9).
Third, giving produces compassion toward the needs of others. "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need" (Eph 4:28).
Fourth, giving produces devotion to God. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Lk 12:34). Giving to God’s eternal kingdom unites our hearts with Him. It follows that if we give regularly to the Lord, we will think about Him more and our hearts will be attached to Him more deeply.
The Almighty does not need our money. He can make money out of the grass. The issue in giving is our hearts. In our giving, let us learn to say, with great joy, "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own" (1 Chr 29:16).