Daily Thought

The Lord continues His debate with His people. Far from returning to Him, in truth they had robbed Him. They protest with yet another ‘Wherein?’ to this accusation. God spells out the charge of robbery. They had been parsimonious in their tithes and offerings, so that God was cheated of His due. Their failure to tithe deprived the Levites, the priests, and the poor of resources, but it was actually the Lord Himself who was defrauded. As a result, the land languished under His discipline; poor yields and crop failure prevailed in field and vineyard.

The New Testament never imposes the tithe. No fixed percentage for giving is laid down. However, God is still concerned about how His people use their resources. Should not the response of the believer under grace be greater, not less, than in the Old Testament? Certainly, we must give regularly to the Lord and in proportion to our resources, 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2. We are to give gladly and with purpose - God loves the cheerful giver, 2 Cor. 9. 7. Ultimately, all we have comes from God and belongs to Him. The tithe was to remind Israel of that truth. God commands us too in these terms; ‘bring the whole tithe into the treasure-house’, v. 10 JND. This means first of all the consecration of ourselves, 2 Cor. 8. 4, 5, and then the glad committal of our every gift (our money, abilities, efforts and energies). We hold all in trust for the Lord. Do we ever honestly assess our stewardship? Are we seeking to bring ‘the whole tithe’ or are we robbing God?

Here the Lord issues a challenge as well as a command - to put Him to the test. If the whole tithe is devoted to Him, cursing will give place to blessing. The desolate land will be come delightful, v. 12. Indeed, God will open the floodgates of heaven and shower His people with superabundant blessing. He dares them to strain His resources and to drain them, if that were possible. What a promise!He who sows bountifully willreap bountifully, 2 Cor. 9. 6. Have we ever put God to the test? Have we obeyed His command, accepted His challenge, and claimed His promise?

Far from robbing God, let us freely offer to Him that which we have to give, so to prove by His response that our bountiful God is no man’s debtor.