Introduction: “Do your giving when your living then your knowing where it is going!”

How can that be?
Can God be ROBBED?
He owns the cattle on 1,000 hills and the earth is His.

Are we ROBBING the LORD?
We are breathing His air, walking on His earth, and drinking His water.
Think about it.

1. Did Israel ROB from the Lord even though they were BLESSED? (Mal 3:8)

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.”

2. How did the people of God (who He had BLESSED) ROB from Him? (Mal 3:8)

3. What did Malachi say would happen to the people that ROBBED from the Lord? (Mal 3:9)

“Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”

4. What does Malachi give as the solution from ROBBING from God? (Mal 3:10,11)

“10Bring 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. 11And 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, saith the LORD of hosts.”

4. What promise did Malachi give if the people would OBEY the Lord and stop ROBBING from Him? (Mal 3:12)

“And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.”

You see, in the days of Nehemiah – about 100 years before Malachi’s day, God sent a revival. The people rebuilt the walls, the temple and the hand of God was on Jerusalem. However, because of apathy and complacency, the Jews got slack in their worship and GIVING. In fact, they were GIVING the Lord “LEFT OVERS” instead of the firstfruits….the best.

Malachi rebukes both the priests and the people because of their backsliding. But he also assures them the BLESSINGS of God would come for OBEDIENCE.

By the way, we do not bargain with the Lord when we give; i.e. if I give this, then I expect You, Lord to give me this in return. Even though it is true, what we sow we reap. (2Cor 9:6)

“6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

If a farmer sows 1 seed verses 1,000,000 seeds, which can he expect will produce the biggest harvest?

When GIVING, our motives must be right. We give our of a “CHEERFUL” heart! (2Cor 9:7,8)

Conclusion: God GAVE His BEST!
Jesus Christ!!
(John 3:16)
He daily loads us with benefits.
(Psa 68:19)

“Giving” is related to “Trusting”! If we can trust Jesus by faith to forgive all of our sins and take us to heaven, why can’t we trust Him with our resources and finances? After all, we are not OWNERS, rather we are MANAGERS of His BLESSINGS.

Question: Is the real gauge for our GIVING, how much we GIVE (not just money), but really HOW MUCH we have LEFT OVER?

We’ve been BLESSED! Good health, families, homes, cars, food, etc.