Daily Morning Message 2/18/2021

MORNING MESSAGE
February 18, 2021
by Gayle Gordon

What can you give Someone who has everything?

Everything!

Carefully read Malachi 3:7-12. It's partner scripture is Proverbs 3:9-10. We have national problems today; this will help.

There is a very practical side to following Christ. It always brings God closer to obey His ordinances. An ordinance is, by my definition, a rule that obeys a precept. The rule here is about tithing.

In this over-glutted economic culture, even the word 'tithe' has power to make some cringe. The subject of tithing is so sensitive because we've had our mental reference turned to suspicion by unscrupulous and illegal handling of many millions of dollars in some churches. We forget that tithing is something we bring for God alone. Releasing tithe to our churches puts it in God's hands, not man's.

But what if...? We can all recount misuse of funds in ministries that promised every dollar went in the direction expected. If we're disappointed, we're tempted to judge those who may have squandered money we gave. But we are not their judges. We can't turn that into a reason to ignore the precept of God. Everyone, including those to whom funds are donated, will be held accountable for the way they managed their ministry of stewardship.

Today, personal tithing is a private affair between you and God. We give in faith, believing that God is our source in all things. We should never be made to feel uneasy about how or what we give God.

A tenth of the substance of the giver is the common amount used in the Bible; that amount is mentioned in Malachi. In the culture of that day, a tenth of the substance of the household including crops, and put in God's storehouse, insured that those with need were blessed. Today, money is thought of first. But money has never been readily available to most of mankind and we can let giving cause worry. God Himself sees what you have and remember; this is the precept of His and He will guide.

"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 - NLT

Malachi is offering us a personal, one-on-one challenge to out-give God; it can't be done!
"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"
Malachi 3:10-11

The gift of being able to give - money, time, prayer, food, comforts - is given to us in the legacy of love bestowed on us by Jesus Christ Himself:
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38

Be blessed and thank God for what you have been given today!