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.
“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; Mal. 3:10-11
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God doesn’t want His tithes because He’s greedy; He doesn’t need our money. He owns the cattle of a thousand hills.
But He does know that kingdom principles ALWAYS work. One of those principles is to give tithes back to God; they already belong to Him; but it’s our willingness to give it back to Him, even when we think we can’t do without it – that willing heart shows God that we will put Him first, even if it means we have to do without some things.
So notice how those verses go together- that’s not an accident or a coincidence. “Bring your tithes to the warehouse, that there may be food in My house” – does God need food? No, but we can take care of needy folks with that food and money (and isn’t that what a church operating in God’s will does?)
God pours out blessings on us when we follow His Will in things. He’ll pour out on us such blessings there won’t be room for it. (And don’t assume that all blessings are monetary.)
But verse 11 really speaks to me- God will rebuke the devourer for my sake – he won’t be able to stop the seeds I’m planting – my harvests will be great, because I’m doing what God asks me to. I do my part, however small it might be, and God will do His part- and His part is world-wide!