⏱ 8 min read

• Day 45 of 50, and we are going strong with this powerful word from Malachi 3. You’ll be super blessed by this! 📖🔥🤗
• You can join in fully and let’s “tattoo” God’s Word in our hearts! 📖🤍
• God bless you, and looking forward to your lessons, insights, and comments.

“For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” – Malachi 3:6

Dear friend, today I would like this to sink into your spirit: You can count on God. He’s dependable and reliable. He is worthy of your trust.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, WHO DOES NOT CHANGE like shifting shadows.” - James 1:17 (NIV)

• Some of you may know fathers who are unpredictable and unreliable.
• They’re always changing, depending on the mood they’re in. It is said that inconsistent fathers produce insecure children.

But the Scripture is explaining to us that God never has a bad day. He doesn’t wake up grumpy. He’s not moody. He doesn’t get up on the wrong side of the bed (lol). He’s consistent and faithful.

2 Timothy 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (NIV). 

Even when I’m unfaithful, God is faithful. Even when I’m inconsistent (eg. with the time for sending the devotionals – mercy!), God is consistent. Even when I’m unreliable, God is reliable.

• No matter what else is changing in the world, there is one thing we can count on:
• God is and will always be the same. He is loving and He is consistent, regardless of our moods and our failings.
• God loves me just as much on my bad days as on my good days. What a blessing!

God says it Himself in Malachi 3:6—“I the LORD do not change” (NIV). That is good news!

• Perhaps one of the main problems with relationships (for instance, between children and parents) — the cause of rebellion, damage, resentment, and hurt feelings — is broken promises.
• Someone says, “I promise to do this…” OR “One of these days—I promise.” And “one of these days” never comes.

But God is consistent. “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” (Psalms 18:30). If God says it, count on it! He’s always faithful! Always dependable!

Tithing

"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." - Malachi 3:10

• Dear friend, if you and I want God’s blessing on a specific part of our lives, we must put Him first in that area.
• And if you want God to bless your finances, you have to put Him first in your money.
• The principle of tithing is this: Give the first 10 percent of your income back to God. The Bible explains the promise, purpose, place, and day for tithing.

The Promise: What’s in it for us?

“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income. Then your barns will be full, and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 (GWT).

God promises that if we honor Him with the first part of our income, He will bless us financially. 

Can you make a decision that if you are going to be in debt to anybody, you are not going to be in debt to God? God gets ‘paid‘ first, right off the top. “Whatever I make, the first 10% goes to Him!” It all comes from God in the first place, and I want His blessing on the rest of it.

Purpose: Why does God tell us to tithe?

Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB) says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.”

• God doesn’t need your money, but He wants what it represents: YOUR HEART.  (For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also).
• God wants our hearts! God wants us to trust Him.

Place: Where should we tithe?

Should we tithe by giving to our favorite NGO or orphanage? Or do we tithe to our brother/sister who’s been out of work for three years?

NO!!! Those are good things but that is charity. Tithing is an act of worship. It goes to God.

Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need’”.

• The storehouse in Israel was the temple and the cities of the Levites. For you and I, this is the place where we worship God – the Church.
• This is where you receive your spiritual nutrition and help; where God has placed you; where your Gospel needs are supplied; and where you have your responsibilities in the work of God (evangelism; supporting with your abilities, etc.)

If we had something to give to you personally (say for Christmas), would you like us to take it to say an orphanage or school or hospital, and tell them it's for you? Winners of the challenge, what do you say? Should we send your rewards to these places?

• God says He has His house – the temple (Church), and He wants the tithe to be taken there.
• For instance: you can’t give your tithe to AWG, send that to your church. However, you can make a donation or give an offering to support us, but not your tithe.

Day: When are you supposed to tithe?

As much as is possible, do it immediately and on the day you worship. You will find this in 1 Corinthians 16:2 – which more direct concerning offering. But remember that God talked about tithes and offerings together in Malachi 3, so these two go hand in hand.

The Living Bible paraphrased says, “On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn” (1 Corinthians 16:2 TLB).

When we give to God on the first day of the week, with the first part of our money, we’re declaring, “God, you’re really number one in my life!” 

Did you notice that the 1st Corinthians verse says to “put aside.” This means you’ve got to plan! Tithing and giving of offerings is not an impulsive thing. (Some people try to keep the nicest of bank notes, purposely for their tithes).

• Remember, God felt dishonoured with the people of Israel because they just chose any flock they found (not caring the condition) and brought it to Him.
• If you had to give to someone you honour, would you just do it carelessly or would you plan it?
• Take some time to plan for it so that you honor God with your tithe. Then watch how He keeps His promise to bless your life.

Let’s end here today with some questions for self-reflection:

• Why do you think God wants you to tithe to your church and not another cause?
• Practically speaking, what does it mean to you to give God the first part of your income?
• How do you need to plan today so that you can be faithful in tithing?

Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved! Do share your lessons from Malachi 3. Remember to tag us and your friends on 📲:
☆ IG: @awg_devotional or @cfc_knust
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Disclaimer: this post contains portions of messages and text originally shared by Ps Rick Warren (who is one of my mentors in the faith)