Enjoying God’s covenant – Part 2

God demands that we return to Him and restore all the tithes to His sanctuary. He challenged the children of Israel who had gone away from Him and stopped paying their tithes to “return” and “Bring all the tithes into [His] storehouse”. God’s challenge was not to condemn them. As children of God, when we are rebuked, we should not interpret it as condemnation. We are often rebuked so that we can please the Lord. 

As we fulfil our obligation of tithing to God, we will have our faithfulness rewarded: “prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing”. Two, fullness received. “There shall not be room enough to receive [the blessings]”. Three, foes rebuked. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes”. Four, fruitfulness regained. “And he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground”. 

There will be a restoration to all the destruction suffered in the past in our businesses and the work of our hands. Five, fertility restored. “Neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time.” Six, favour recognised. If we obey the Lord and duly pay our tithes, “All nations shall call [us] blessed” and the favour of God upon us will be recognised. Seven, the future reassured. “For ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.”

We should not listen to false prophets who claim that tithing is Old Testament teaching; and since it is no longer operational, we can give our tithes and offerings at random rates. They forget that Abraham commenced it; Jacob continued it; Moses commanded it; Christ commended it and none can cancel it. As we liberally give to the Lord, He will give us without measure. However, we must not give below one-tenth of whatever we earn. 

Christ taught about tithes. As Christians, He does not want us to be like the Scribes and the Pharisees who religiously paid their tithes but ignored salvation, righteousness, love for God and helping other people, so that we can be part of the promised blessings. Every member of the family must be encouraged to give at all times. When we do these expectantly, God will fulfil His promises because He is not a debtor. Tithes have been commanded to be brought into the house of God and not elsewhere. When we obey the Lord and bring our tithes to the right place, God’s blessings will not elude us. 

God rewards every faithful servant who labours in His service. Those who serve God faithfully will be remembered on the final day. When we serve God in any capacity, there are always fruits for our labour. Many people ignore the call to serve the Lord and they consider it “vain to serve God”.  We must give all in the service of the Lord. God, and not corporations of the world, should be number one in our lives. Those who do not regard the Lord and His demand to give Him a befitting service carry out a dreadful revolt. But the dutiful remnant will be remembered on that final day for the reward of faithfulness. 

There will be reward for those who heed the Lord’s call with a delightful response. We must realise that whatever we give our time to in this world will be burnt up eventually. Only what we do for Christ will matter at the end of life. The people who refuse to serve God will be condemned “to shame and everlasting contempt,” while the wise ones “shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and… as the stars for ever and ever.” 

Further Reading (King James Version): Malachi 3:1; 2:17; Matthew 11:10,11; Mark 1:2,3; Luke 1:72; John 1:6,7; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 9:6,7; Haggai 2:7; Malachi 3:7-12; Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20,22; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; Matthew 23:23; Zechariah 8:23; Malachi 3:13-18; Daniel 12:2,3.