Malachi - Week 5 - Day 2

Cheating God 

READ 

Malachi 3:8-9 

8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.” 

God tells the people how they had cheated Him. They had not given the tithes and offerings due to Him. Not only the priests but also the entire nation had been cheating God. A “tithe” is 10 percent, but there were various tithes the Israelites were to pay—some say there were four tithes. But God wanted more than their money, He wanted their hearts. 

REFLECT 

During New Testament times, believers in Jesus are not under the Old Testament law. Any giving should be done with a joyous heart because of your love for the Lord. Is this the way you give? 

RESPOND 

Spend time with a fellow believer seeing what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 for the pattern for giving. Some who have been abundantly blessed should give more than 10 percent. Read also 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 for the example of those who first gave themselves before their offerings. Be aware that a “tithe” is not mentioned in the New Testament for believers in Jesus after Acts 2.