By Pastor Edmund D. L. Wong
Text: Malachi 3:6-12

Introduction

Eric Shipton, an explorer related an incident of overlooking God’s blessings.

When he reached Bergen, Norway, He found that, due to some slight miscalculation, he had only just enough money for his ticket by boat to London and none to spare for food. In those days he had a healthy appetite, and the prospect of a two-day fast was not pleasant. He grew more and more ravenous (very hungry) as the voyage progressed. Finally, he could not stand it no more and, as the other passengers were entering the ship’s dining room for he last meal, he asked a kindly looking old gentleman if he would bring him some bread when he had finished. The old gentleman looked at him in astonishment, and said, “But why don’t you come in and eat?” He explained his plight (serious and difficult situation and condition), to which the gentleman replied, “But you don’t have to pay; meals are included in your ticket.”

How many of you realize that God is able to bless us exceedingly abundantly more than we ever ask or imagine? (Ephesians 3:20)

Secondly, do you not know that it is God’s will to bless his children; just like earthly fathers who bless their children?

Jesus says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11)

So what can possibly stop God from blessing us: Sin!
In this passage there are three simple steps (3As) to receiving God’s abundant blessings.

I. Admit Our Sin (Malachi 6:6-7)

Robbing God (Malachi 3:6-12)

6 "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty. 7 "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

A. God is patient

Throughout history, his people have disobeyed, even scorned, his laws, but he has always been willing to accept them back.

B. Stop challenging God

Here, however, the people have the nerve to imply that they never disobeyed “How can we return when we have never gone away?”

Illustration

Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:7)

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

God’ Great Love (Psalm 103:8-10)

7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger (patient), abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

Application

Many people have turned their backs on forgiveness and restoration because they have refused to admit their sin.

II. Acknowledge Our Shortcomings (faults) (Malachi 3:8-9)

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. 8 "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'

8 "In tithes and offerings.

9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.

A. God owns everything

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

 (Psalm 24:1)

8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

(Haggai 2:8)

B. Stop Robbing God

6 You have planted much but harvested little. You have food to eat, but not enough to fill you up. You have wine to drink, but not enough to satisfy your thirst. You have clothing to wear, but not enough to keep you warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! (Haggai 1:6)

Malachi urged the people to stop holding back their tithes, to stop cheating God, and thereby stop the curse!

Illustration

David in his prayer (1 Chronicle 29:14)

14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

Abram rescues Lot (Genesis 14:18-20)

14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. 17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem d brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator e of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Abram recognized that it was God who gave him the victory and honour God by returning a tenth of everything that he had gained.

Stop robbing yourself of God’s blessings! Acknowledge your limitations, shortcomings and give God the glory!

Application

The Bible makes the purpose of tithing very clear—to put God first in our lives.

We are to give God the first and the best of what we earn.

For example, what we do first with our money shows what we value most.

Giving the first part of our paycheck to God immediately focuses our attention on him. It also reminds us that all we have belongs to him.

III. Act on God’s Word (Malachi 3:10-12)

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty.

12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

A. Returning what belongs to God

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

The reason people withhold the tithe is that they don’t understand that God owns it. They think it is their money and they become possessive!

Illustration

The tithing system began during the time of Moses

A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy. (Leviticus 27:30)

You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. (Deuteronomy 14:22)

Application

A habit of regular tithing can keep God at the top of our priority list and give us a proper perspective on everything else we have.

If you are a member of a church regardless of your intention, that is the storehouse of God which you must give your 10% tithe. Anything more than that is an offering to God which you may give freely as God convicts your hearts of the needs of His people.

Many people are ignorant about the importance of giving to the church which they belong. There is no such thing as helping God. God has put you there for a purpose-to build His church. More importantly is the spiritual significance in relation to God’s Blessings. Would you want to honour God or play God? What’s given to God will come back to us a hundred fold. We are just returning a portion as the first-fruit acknowledging God’s provision and He will give us the increase.

B. Filling up God’s store-house

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

During Malachi’s day, the people were not giving tithes, so the Levites went to work to earn a living, thereby neglecting their God-given responsibilities to care for the Temple and for the service of worship.

So when we refuse to return (10% tithe) to God a part of what he has given us, we rob God and slow down His ministry.

Application

Do you selfishly want to keep 100 percent of what God gives, or are you willing to return at least 10 percent to help advance God’s Kingdom?

C. Expect God’s abundant blessing

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty," and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

The people of Malachi’s day ignored God’s command to give a tithe of their income to his Temple.

They may have feared losing what they had worked so hard to get, but in this they misjudged God.

Illustration

Jesus Teaches about Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6)

38 If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you.”

Honour God and He will honour you (Proverbs 3:9)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Application

Giving to God first helps us conquer greed, helps us properly manage God’s resources, and opens us up to receive God’s special blessings.

Conclusion

God says in Malachi 3:11-12,

11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty.

12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

Your investment will be protected!

Your investment will bear fruit!

Your investment will be a blessing!

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