Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye 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.      

         As we recently watched the U.S. government struggle with the budget as the debt ceiling is again raised I began to think about the coming economic crisis that is soon to unfold on the U.S. and then the world. Government spending and debt is escalating out of control as the economy is spiraling down toward an inevitable depression and collapse.  As we see prices rising higher and higher, our personal budgets get tighter and tighter.    

        Some may be tempted to feel that in times like these that the request of God to pay our tithes and offerings is too much.  There just doesn’t seem to be enough money to make ends meet and still return to God what is His. It is times like these when we need to remember that the above text is also a promise. God promises, that if we are faithful, He will fulfill our needs and pour out a blessing upon us. It is in times like these that our faith is tested. If we can’t lay 10% on the altar now, how will we find the faith to lay all on the altar in the coming days as this earth’s history comes to a close?    

King David came to realize that God was more important to him than any gold or silver. God’s law and His directions must become precious to us. “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (Psalm 119:72) If we claim to be a child of God and yet withhold from Him our tithes and offerings, are we not robbing God?  

 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:7, 8.  As the Giver of every blessing, God claims a certain portion of all we possess. This is His provision to sustain the preaching of the gospel. And by making this return to God, we are to show our appreciation of His gifts. But if we withhold from Him that which is His own, how can we claim His blessing? If we are unfaithful stewards of earthly things, how can we expect Him to entrust us with the things of heaven? It may be that here is the secret of unanswered prayer.    

 But the Lord in His great mercy is ready to forgive, and He says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, . . . 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. 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. . . . And all nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:10-12.”   

So in this time of economic uncertainty and worry, place you faith in God and return what is His. He will meet your needs and your faith will be strengthened. God places the challenge before you now. “Prove me”, says the Lord of Hosts!