Malachi 3:⁸ Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! ⁹ You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! ¹⁰ Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. ¹¹

A key dimension of righteousness in scripture is caring for the poor, the needy, the widow, the orphan, the alien, and so on. Failing to do so was often a cause of punishment for Israel by God. The tithes and offerings collected at the temple of God was a key source of funds to pay for the support of those in need. Via the church, this process continues today. People give to the church which supports people all over the world.

One of the things I love about the church I serve is the way the church lives out this principal. We have made a point over the years to grow in our giving to those outside of the church, blessing so many people – while at the same time receiving all we need from the Lord to take care of our own needs. We can rest assured that God responds to our generosity with generosity. It’s a virtuous cycle experienced in the Kingdom of God in a special way.

Lord thank you for your generous provision. When we embrace the practice of tithing we can rest assured knowing our material needs are cared for, and that we can bless people near and far via the church and other Christian ministries. We bless you in the name of Jesus. Amen.