Scripture:

Malachi 3:8-11

Do Not Rob God
8 “Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 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.
11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;

It's a Test

One of the most controversial topics Is Tithing; the world would love to convince us that it is an Old Testament thing and that we are not obligated to do it or honor God with it.  But the fact is the New Testament has plenty of references ( 2 Corinthians 9:7,1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:3, Matthew 23:23 / Luke 11:42, Hebrews 7:1–10).   But really today  I want you to see that this is a test; God is saying that you and I should give OUR HEARTS.  See, God knows where you are invested, where your treasure is; your heart is (Matt 6:21).   Ask yourself, where is my treasure? Am I invested in things that perish and ultimately have no value; they neither add or give me life.   That really is the test; let that simmer.    He doesn't stop there; He says, "Try  Me now in this."   Test Me!   Maybe you missed this: when you give your whole life to Him, when you really begin to trust Him, yup, even with your finances, everything changes; that's the fact.  He says He will:

• Open the windows of heaven for you
• Pour out blessings you cannot contain.
• Rebuke the devourer for your sake.
• Your sowing will be fruitful.
• Your vines will not fail to bear fruit.   

So, today's God-Shot is more of a question:  "What/Who do you trust?"   Are you robbing God of parts of your life? What do you need to surrender?  What have you been holding back that you have not trusted Him with/for?   

God has changed my life through giving, tithing, and offerings, giving.  Even when my math didn't add up, God's math did if you get what I mean.   My life has been transformed through promotions, through gifts, through changes that only God could have done.    You want to stormproof your finances? I challenge you to be a giver, not just of your finances, but of your time, your treasure, and your talents, and see that God will use them, multiply them, be glorified in them, and as a result, your life will be TRANSFORMED.

Father, I pray that today, whatever it is that we are holding back, you would reveal that to us; if we have been storing rather than being a vessel through which you pour, show us that blessing is an exchange program, that as we are blessed, we become a blessing which makes room for more blessings in our lives. Make us a channel through which you pour.   More importantly, let us give all that we have (are) to you; if tithing is lacking, let that change; if serving is lacking, let that change; if we are not using our talents to honor and glorify You, let that change, in Jesus' name, amen!