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Sunday, October 28, 2012

Devotional: Money, Money, Money


Money, Money, Money
October 28, 2012
Malachi 3:6-12
“I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.  Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’  “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!  Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.  “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

The Lord does not change.  He asks for obedience.  He makes clear what obedience looks like.  He promises a healthier and more meaningful life to those who obey and live as He directs.  Yet people have always struggled to do this.  Despite generations of evidence proving God’s promises are true, we still disobey.

“Return to me” says the Lord.  The people ask “How”.  The Lord’s simple answer is “stop cheating me”.  This is strong language from the Lord.  Does God need money?  No!  Do we need God?  Yes!  So why does God care about what we do with the money we have?  Money and wealth can become idols.  If we are not careful, we will serve money rather than the Lord.  We cannot do both.  The tithe exists for our benefit.  It puts life together in a healthy and proper manner.  All we have comes from the Lord.  When we honor God through obedience we experience blessing.  God meets our need.  “Put me to the test” says the Lord.  Are we?  Will we trust God?

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