So for me I have to look at what I am giving at this point in time and ask God where is my heart, am I giving our of duty, but secretly trying to hold back the best bits for myself? Do I have a misconception on why I am to give at all? Do I treat it like I am losing out on "my money" by giving some of it away? Of course God answers that one very well:
Malachai 3: 8 - 12
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 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.
My question to myself is, am I bringing the whole tithe into the storehouse?!
Do I bring all my money?
Do I bring all my time?
Do I bring all my talents?
Do I bring all my energy?
Do I bring all of me???
Giving to God is strange, I mean He already has all he needs right? And if He doesn't He can basically create it! So this whole giving thing can't really be about God, it must be about ourselves.
Of course God is gracious enough to give us a mind blowing incentive in this book as well, namely knowing He is watching, and that even our conversations are remembered!
Malachai 4
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.
I think that is well cool.
