The Right Way To Obey God. Part [27] 01/20/2025 (Morning thought)

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.

The promises made in Malachi 3 are too often viewed as a sort of contract between God and the giver and thus there are some persons who will return tithes, and offerings, with the singular, and highest purpose of reaping the rewards. Others will return funds into God’s treasury with the expectation that the “Devourer” would be promptly rebuked, and if this does not occur as they expected their faith receives a shock and their hopes are now dashed to pieces. In some minds, God did not keep His end of the bargain.

The reason in most cases is that they were obeying God for the wrong reason. The right way to obey God in this matter is to return your tithes, and your offerings because you acknowledge God’s mercies and His gifts to you, we being unworthy. Great time should be spent in contemplation of the things God has given to us freely, salvation full and free, and if faithful, eternal life, and from this right perspective, we should give with sincere gratitude.

This type of giving, God will be well pleased with. But if persons were to give from the perspective of a binding contract, then it would not be giving at all, it will be pay to play, as often takes place among some of the politicians of the day. In other words, persons should not attempt to grease God’s hands in order to receive blessings.

2nd Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you, always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

The Right Way To Obey God. Part [26] 01/20/2025 (Evening thought)

Psalms 50: 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

When it came time to return the faithful tithe, with freewill offerings, the folks in the days of Malachi came up short, for they were obeying God on the matter of finances, grudgingly. Five promises to the faithful are made in the above passages, but like with anything else that God has promised, we must be careful in the application, lest we find ourselves obeying The Lord for the wrong reasons.

Malachi 3: 8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

The following are the four promises made to those who willingly obey The Lord in the matter of tithes and offerings: [1] I will open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [2] And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land. [3] And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground. [4] Your vine shall not cast her fruit before the time in the field.

Malachi 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!