From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved,
RENEW YOUR GIVING "'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. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,' says the LORD Almighty. 'Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,' says the LORD Almighty" (Malachi 3:10-12, NIV). This passage is the most popular in the book of Malachi because of its teaching on tithes. Many stewardship sermons have been preached on this passage. What made Malachi to challenge the people of Israel to return to God by being faithful in their tithes and offerings? This devotional messages is an abridged version of a study on the entire scriptural principles of giving with Malachi 3:7-12 as focal passage though the study will not be only on tithes and offerings but on giving generally, hence the topic. The people of Israel were accused of disobeying God right from the days of their forefathers. As much as God tried to bring them to Himself, they strayed away from Him. God charged them to return unto Him so that He also would return unto them (see James 4:8-9). Ironically, the Israelites did not know how to return to God. How could they, when they did not care to serve Him the right way? Only those who try to seek God find Him. If the people did not know the way they had derailed from God, Malachi was ready to bluntly tell them that they were robbing God. To rob man is a grave offence in Israel. What a surprise that they were not robbing men, but God! One would not be surprised that the people of Israel asked for the ways in which they were robbing God. However, did they not know? In his bluntness, Malachi told them that they were robbing God in their tithes and offerings. He had earlier raised the issue of profane offering in chapter one. Offerings here referred to the portions of the general offerings designated for the priests. The tithe was literally a tenth of all produce and livestock that the people possessed (Leviticus 27:30, 32). It was to be given to the Levites, who in turn were to give a tithe of the tithe to the priests (Numbers 18:21-32). By implication, if the priests were not receiving offerings and tithes due to them, then they would have to turn to other means of supporting themselves, thereby neglecting the temple ministry. The study will be concluded next week with the New Testament teaching on giving generally. This abridged study was started last week with the accusation against the people of Israel for not bringing their tithe and offering to the temple. This will conclude the study on the understanding and application of the entire scriptural principles of giving - not only giving of tithe - that have greater meaning in the lives of those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Since the temple ministry was suffering because of the non-payment of tithes and offerings of the people to the priests, God had to place a curse on them. The nature of this curse can be determined from the blessing in Malachi 3:11 - famine due to pests eating their vegetation and vines without grapes (cf. Deuteronomy 28:38-40). The people were enjoined to bring their whole tithe to the temple so that they would receive God's blessings (Malachi 3:10). This promise was a reaffirmation of the obedience/blessing relationship stipulated in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. It reminded the Israelites of the covenant God had made with them. They would receive agricultural blessings and a good reputation among other nations. The New Testament does not specifically teach about tithe, but it does teach about generous giving (Acts 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:14-19). The manner of this giving must be in (a) firstly giving of ONESELF (2 Corinthians 8:5); (b) one that, as much as possible, no other person knows about (Matthew 6:1-4); (c) giving in love (1 Corinthians 13:3); (d) accordance with one's ability (Acts 11:29); and (e) without grudge (2 Corinthians 9:5, 7). The measure of the New Testament giving is UNLIMITED - the more you give, the more you receive from God (Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6). The tithe is a good place to begin in formulating a program for Christian stewardship. However, it should not stop there. God is ready to bless only those who are giving generously to the needy and the cause of the gospel. Many people have been robbing THEMSELVES of the blessings of God by not giving generously out of their possessions. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor) ================================================ From: Suzianty Herawati "Thou hast left thy first love." --Revelation 2:4 Ever to be remembered is that best and brightest of hours, when first we saw the Lord, lost our burden, received the roll of promise, rejoiced in full salvation, and went on our way in peace. It was spring time in the soul; the winter was past; the mutterings of Sinai's thunders were hushed; the flashings of its lightnings were no more perceived; God was beheld as reconciled; the law threatened no vengeance, justice demanded no punishment. Then the flowers appeared in our heart; hope, love, peace, and patience sprung from the sod; the hyacinth of repentance, the snowdrop of pure holiness, the crocus of golden faith, the daffodil of early love, all decked the garden of the soul. The time of the singing of birds was come, and we rejoiced with thanksgiving; we magnified the holy name of our forgiving God, and our resolve was, "Lord, I am Thine, wholly Thine; all I am, and all I have, I would devote to Thee. Thou hast brought me with Thy blood--let me spend myself and be spent in Thy service. In life and in death let me be consecrated to Thee." How have we kept this resolve? Our espousal love burned with a holy flame of devoutedness to Jesus--is it the same now? Might not Jesus well say to us, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left they first love"? Alas! it is but little we have done for our Master's glory. Our winter has lasted all too long. We are as cold as ice when we should feel a summer's glow and bloom with sacred flowers. We give to God pence when He deserveth pounds, nay, deserveth our heart's blood to be coined in the service of His church and of His truth. But shall we continue thus? O Lord, after Thou hast so richly blessed us, shall we be ungrateful and become indifferent to Thy good cause and work? O quicken us that we may return to our first love, and do our first works! Send us a genial spring, O Sun of Righteousness. CH Spurgeon =================================================== From: Suzianty Herawati "Understandest thou what thou readest?" --Acts 8:30 We should be abler teachers of others, and less liable to be carried about by every wind of doctrine, if we sought to have a more intelligent understanding of the Word of God. As the Holy Ghost, the Author of the Scriptures is He who alone can enlighten us rightly to understand them, we should constantly ask His teaching, and His guidance into all truth. When the prophet Daniel would interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what did he do? He set himself to earnest prayer that God would open up the vision. The apostle John, in his vision at Patmos, saw a book sealed with seven seals which none was found worthy to open, or so much as to look upon. The book was afterwards opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had prevailed to open it; but it is written first--"I wept much." The tears of John, which were his liquid prayers, were, so far as he was concerned, the sacred keys by which the folded book was opened. Therefore, if, for your own and others' profiting, you desire to be "filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding," remember that prayer is your best means of study: like Daniel, you shall understand the dream, and the interpretation thereof, when you have sought unto God; and like John you shall see the seven seals of precious truth unloosed, after you have wept much. Stones are not broken, except by an earnest use of the hammer; and the stone-breaker must go down on his knees. Use the hammer of diligence, and let the knee of prayer be exercised, and there is not a stony doctrine in revelation which is useful for you to understand, which will not fly into shivers under the exercise of prayer and faith. You may force your way through anything with the leverage of prayer. Thoughts and reasonings are like the steel wedges which give a hold upon truth; but prayer is the lever, the prise which forces open the iron chest of sacred mystery, that we may get the treasure hidden within. CH Spurgeon
