Malachi 3:9-12

9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 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.
11 “ 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;
12 And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.


Here, the Lord challenges His people. If they bring all their tithes and offerings to Him,
- They will be given so much more back that they will not have enough room to receive all their blessings.
- Their fields or crops will not be destroyed by Satan.
- All the nations will see that they are blessed.
- Their land will be a delightful one.

What a powerful promise from God for those who always feel that they don't have enough to fulfil even that 10% tithe for God, or who always fall short whenever their pay cheque comes in!

God is saying that if we trust him with our 10% or more, He will deliver that 90% and much much more. As well, when people see us, they will be amazed because they know that God's hand is upon our resources and our lives.

One pastor said during his sermon that if we keep holding all of God's blessings in our hands without passing them on to others and blessing others, then we will always be limited to the blessings in our hands.

But if we keep passing them on to others, then we will always have empty hands ready to receive the next deluge of God's blessings. That is a visual picture that has stuck with me ever since, and that has heavily influenced the way I carry out my stewardship of everything that God has entrusted me with in my life.

And I would definitely challenge anyone to take up God at His Word. He or she shouldn't be even slightly surprised when the blessings flood in because God has said it and He will honour His Word. *smile*


References:
1. Matthew Henry's Commentary of the Bible

2. John Calvin's Commentary of the Bible