I trust God’s provision, but I still worry about finances when writing a check or giving online to church. I have never gone hungry but have wondered if this will be the week where the groceries don’t stretch far enough. I have example after example of how I have seen this provision come into play in my life, but when we receive notice that a bill price is going up and the paycheck isn’t, I still feel concerned.
So why do we give? Does it matter? Shouldn’t we keep what we have to, save wisely, and assume the rest is being taken care of?
It matters to the Lord. It matters enough that we see examples of things being set apart for the Lord from the beginning. In Genesis, we see many opportunities to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, God sets apart certain groups of people to be His. The Levites and the firstborn are to be dedicated to the Lord. In Nehemiah, it’s been about seventy years since the Temple was rebuilt, and the Lord reminds them again of their covenant with tithing.
God reminds the people of this again later, “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 there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10 NIV).
The Lord doesn’t ask us to trust Him with some things that we feel He can handle. In this verse, he says to bring the WHOLE tithe. HE tells us that he will pour out so many blessings. It feels powerful to think that God loves me enough that in my act of trusting, He is willing to open the heavens to pour out blessings.
How have you experienced God’s blessings when faithful and trusting with your giving?
So why do we give? Does it matter? Shouldn’t we keep what we have to, save wisely, and assume the rest is being taken care of?
It matters to the Lord. It matters enough that we see examples of things being set apart for the Lord from the beginning. In Genesis, we see many opportunities to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, God sets apart certain groups of people to be His. The Levites and the firstborn are to be dedicated to the Lord. In Nehemiah, it’s been about seventy years since the Temple was rebuilt, and the Lord reminds them again of their covenant with tithing.
God reminds the people of this again later, “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 there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10 NIV).
The Lord doesn’t ask us to trust Him with some things that we feel He can handle. In this verse, he says to bring the WHOLE tithe. HE tells us that he will pour out so many blessings. It feels powerful to think that God loves me enough that in my act of trusting, He is willing to open the heavens to pour out blessings.
How have you experienced God’s blessings when faithful and trusting with your giving?
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5 Comments
Sarah, this so good and love you included the scripture reminding us about bringing the whole tithe. I have my giving set up to be drafted each month and it gives me peace of mind. Tithing was a big thing to my husband and I want to be a continuance of his heart too. Giving honors God and him as well.
I agree Sarah! I have always tithed. Even when I was young and sold my toys out in the yard on a blanket each summer. I loved going to church on Sunday, taking the small white tithing envelop, scribbling my name on the front, licking the envelop shut, and waiting for the plate to be passed. But I also remember when I got married and had to pay bills, somehow the same child-like Joy want there. Oh that I will always give with a cheerful heart!
So good Sarah, I love that scripture. The Lord God, creator of all things, asks us to test Him. How can we refuse? And He promises over and over to provide what we need if we trust Him with our finances.
That was really a beautiful scripture!!! Love this!💜💜💜
I love this message Sarah. I have seen this principle play out over and over through my life, but especially true as a single mom the last few years. It was always scary to write that check knowing all the things I had to pay for that month. But God always provided and never failed me.