Malachi 2-4

"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 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. "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

This is a rather long passage, but I want to share two things. One is giving tithes and offerings to God. If we don't give our time, money, and everything we have onto God as an offering, we are robbing God. He is telling us to test him this day to see whether he will bless us or not if we give to him.

Pastor Tim often says no one can out give God. I think that is so true. Sometimes, I say to God 'God, I am doing this and that for you, isn't it enough? Why do I have to serve and give to you and others?' just like the Israelites here. They said 'It is futile to serve God.' This shows how prideful they were. And we say this to God thinking we are sacrificing so much of ourselves in serving God. But if we truly remember what God has done, is doing, and will do for us, we cannot complain to God. In fact, being given an opportunity to serve God is such a privilege and honor one can ever have. Who are we that God should choose us to serve him?

Let us thank God this day for his provision and grace in our lives. How joyful we are because we are in Christ!