Author: Gary Witcher

Questions from Malachi - 6

     There are various passages in the New Testament that discuss the concept of giving.  But one of the most powerful lessons dealing with contributions to God is found in the book of Malachi in the Old Testament.
     "Will a man rob God?" Malachi 3:8-10 asks.  "Yet you are robbing Me!" the passage continues.  "But you say, 'How have we robbed Thee?'  In tithes and contributions.
     "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test 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 a blessing until there is no more need."
     Obviously, this passage is talking about material giving.  But we should point out at the beginning that the same principles that apply to money apply also to time, energy and affections.
     There are two stories in the Bible that give us an interesting insight into the kind of attitude that God expects from us when it comes to giving.
     The first story is recorded in Joshua chapter seven.  The Israelites have come out of slavery in Egypt and have spent 40 years wondering in the wilderness because of their lack of trust in God.  They have finally crossed the Jordan River and have entered the Promised Land.  God has given them victory over the city of Jericho.  God has also warned the people that all of the spoil from the conquered city belongs to Him.
     The Israelites send a band of men to conquer a small town.  These men are shamefully defeated, and the leaders must find out what has gone wrong.  The problem is finally pinpointed in the tent of a man named Achan.
     "I coveted them and took them," Achan explains of the clothing, silver and gold that he has taken from Jericho.  This greed has already caused the deaths of 36 Israelite soldiers, and it also costs Achan his own life.  God's message is clear.  He asks for everything.  And He is not satisfied with someone who pretends to obey this while hiding part of the treasure in the tent.
     The other story is found in the book of Acts.  Once again, God's children are coming out of slavery.  Only this time they are coming out of slavery to sin.  They are also entering the Promised Land, the kingdom of Christ, the church.  Chapter four ends with an account of a man named Barnabas, who sells some land and gives all the money to the church.  Chapter five opens with the story of Ananias and Sapphira, a man and wife who sell a tract of land and also claim to give all the money to the church.  The only problem is that they actually keep part of the money for themselves.  As was the case with Achan, this deceit costs them their lives.  Once again, God is not satisfied with those who pretend to give everything while hiding part of the treasure for themselves.
     We have seen the wrong attitude about giving.  But what is the right attitude toward the material blessings that God has given us?
     The correct attitude toward what God has given us is displayed in the prayer taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13.  It is an attitude of gratefulness instead of greed.
     And our attitude should be the one expressed in Matthew 6:19-21.
     "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth," Jesus instructs in this passage, "where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
     The rest of the chapter continues with the discussion of the correct attitude toward material things.  A similar lesson is taught in Luke 12:22-34.
     How does God feel about what He has given us?  We can find the answer in scriptures such as Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27.  The stories are a little different in these two passages, but the lesson is clearly the same.
     A ruler or master leaves his possessions with various men while he goes on a trip.  Upon his return, he requires an accounting from those who have had his money.  He praises and rewards those who have used his things wisely, while he punishes the one who does not use wisely that which has been entrusted to him.  God will require a similar accounting from all of us some day.

     We have seen the wrong attitude toward material possessions, and we have seen how we SHOULD feel about God's gifts.  Perhaps "loan" is a better word than "gift," since our possession of any material thing is temporary.  We have also seen how God feels about our use of these loans.  But, more specifically, what does the Bible teach about our attitude toward riches?
     Luke 12 contains a clear answer to this question.  It also contains a clear formula for happiness, although few people seem to be willing to understand what is taught here.
     In verse 13 a man interrupts Jesus to ask the Master to settle a dispute about some money.  The key to happiness is located in verse 15.
     "Beware," Jesus teaches," and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."  Notice that last little phrase again.  "Not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."  How true this is!  And how strongly it runs counter to the American philosophy of life!  Although we don't want to admit it, we all seem to agree with the saying that life is a game and the one with the most toys at the end wins.
     In Luke 18:18-30 we find the account of a rich young ruler.  He asks Jesus what he should do to obtain eternal life.  Knowing his heart, Jesus replies that he must give up his material possessions.  The young ruler is not willing to adopt this attitude.
     This is a different story in Luke 19:1-10.
     "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor," Zaccheus volunteers, "and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much."
     Paul gives us another example of the correct attitude toward riches.
     "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes," the apostle states in Acts 20:33.
     God's feeling about riches is explained in James 5:1-6.  "Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten," verse two announces to those who have become wealthy by abusing others.  "Your gold and your silver have rusted;" verse three continues, "and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire.  It is in the Last Days that you have stored up your treasure!"
     Backing up to the previous chapter of James, we learn in verse four that friendship with the world is hostility toward God.  Verses 4-10 explain what our attitude should be toward riches.
     If this is how we should feel about riches, how should we look at giving?
     "It is more blessed to give than to receive," Paul reminds us in Acts 20:35.
    "He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly," the same apostle writes in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.  Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."
     Take a look at James 2:14-26 and decide how important it is to have the proper attitude about giving.
     Whenever we consider a topic such as this one, most people come to one of two conclusions.  "I'm already giving plenty," some reply. Doesn't this sound strangely like the reply of the Israelites in Malachi?  And didn't God tell them that they were actually robbing Him?
     "I just can't afford to make any sacrifices," others explain.  But this may not be the proper perspective.  Perhaps the approach should be, "Can I afford to not make any sacrifices?"
     Luke 16:19-31 records the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  The Rich Man thought he could not afford to help Lazarus.  In reality, he could not afford to not help Lazarus, because his attitude cost him his soul.
     "For what will a man be profited," Jesus asks in Matthew 16:26, "if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
     What are we willing to give to God in terms of our material blessings?  What are we willing to give in terms of time and energy?  And what sacrifices are we willing to make in order to follow Him the way the Bible tells us to?
     The Israelites were greatly blessed by God.  But they robbed Him.  We often do the same thing.  Instead, our attitude should be the one we find in Psalm 116:12, "What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"
     Have we not understood that our lives do not consist of our possessions?  Are we slaves to our possessions?
     Through His word, God offers us the truth that will make us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."