Tithes and Offerings (Pt. 5)

‘Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, in what way

have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings.’

Malachi 3:8

Oftentimes, we only pay attention to the tithing portion of that verse, but God said ‘in offerings’ too! Many do one of the following;

1. Tithe, but not give offerings.

2. Tithe occasionally, but give no offering.

3. Don’t tithe the full 10% and give no offering.

4. Don’t tithe the full 10% and bring an offering.

5. Don’t tithe at all and give an offering every now and then.

6. Don’t tithe at all and bring no offering.

Malachi 3:11 says, ‘And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground…’ The fruit He’s referring to also includes the fruit from your offerings.

We’ve all been in services where we were told if we sow ‘our best seed’ or give a good offering then God will give us ‘thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold’ (Mt 13:8) of what we’ve given. But one of the reasons you haven’t seen the return on your investment (sowing, offering, and giving) is because your crop, your ground, or the means by which God uses to get your harvest to you is exposed and is being attacked by the devourer (click here for Financial Devourer) because you fall into one of the aforementioned categories. It’s not that sowing and giving doesn’t work; it’s that you’ve been misappropriating your tithe and offering.

Misappropriation is defined as ‘the intentional misuse of someone else’s money for one’s own use.’ ‘… But you say, in what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings.’ (Mal 3:8) When you chose not to tithe and give offerings regularly, you open yourself up for the devourer to consume your profits, donations, and wages which includes every return you should have received byway of the seeds you’ve sown and the offerings you’ve given.

So how do you start receiving a return on your investments? Tithe fully and give an offering! But how much? Well, you know tithe is 10%; but the offering is up to you and God. But remember, the way to ensure you receive a return on your giving is to tithe and give an offering regularly!

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, will you please forgive me (insert which category out of 1 – 6 that you fall into) for not tithing and bringing an offering to You. I’d been so concerned with my living expenses and where the tithe was going that I decided not to. I didn’t mean to rob You. Lord, I ask You to help me to repent – to actually start tithing fully and give an offering as well. I know that since I hadn’t in the past that it may take some time for me to get use to doing it; but Lord I know that it begins with me making a decision. So I’m asking You to help me make that decision today. Help me to become a faithful tither and giver. In Jesus’ name.

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