MALACHI 3:8-12

1. THE TEST OF INTEGRITY BEFORE GOD:
1. God asked the question, "Will a man rob God?" Think about that. How can a man rob God? If you tried to pull a stick-up, the smallest angel would quickly disarm you. If you tried to sneak into His warehouse to pilfer riches, the security guards would catch you every time. So, not only, "Will a man rob God?" but "How can a man rob God?"
1. We can do that by giving Him less than the best of our offerings. We are told, "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces." Proverbs 3:9 (NLT).
2. We can rob God by giving Him just the left-overs of our resources. We spend on what we want, we buy what we think we need, and then out of what is left, if anything is left, we give to God. But Jesus commends giving not from surplus, but as a sacrifice. "Jesus went over to the collection box in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies. He called His disciples to Him and said, 'I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.'" Mark 12:41-44 (NLT).
3. We can rob God by lying to Him about what we have (but He knows the truth anyhow) and giving out of that amount. "There was also a man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, but he claimed it was the full amount. His wife had agreed to this deception. Then Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God." Acts 5:1-4 (NLT).
2. Now, tithing is a test of our integrity before God. Are we honest in giving the best? Are we honest in giving the first? Are we honest in the amount we give from the amount we admit to having?
3. You know, you can fool your spouse; you can fool your parents; you can fool your preacher; you can even fool yourself - but nobody fools God! Why would anyone want to take such a big risk?
1. Some people allow selfishness and greed to keep them from giving a full tithe.
2. Others allow doubt to keep them from giving a full tithe.
3. Some allow debt to keep them from giving. Their financial plan is out of whack and they overspend so they are in the quagmire of financial liability so they don't give the full tithe.
4. Others don't give a full tithe because they are ill-informed. They don't know that a tithe is 10% - not just whatever amount we happen to feel like giving on any particular day. One dime out of every dollar; one dollar out of one hundred. That's a tithe.
4. The question is not, "Do I have to tithe?" There is no New Testament law about tithing. Much better questions are, "Do I want to be honest before God?" And, "Do I want to be blessed?" Some, lacking integrity before God, fail to bring the full tithe, rob Him, and miss out on His blessing. They are like the man who had two lambs. He decided to raise one for himself and one to sell for money to give to God. Time came and went and one day the man went out to the sheep pen and one of the sheep was dead. He went into the house and said, "Aw, Honey, the Lord's lamb died."

So to receive a harvest, we need to pass the integrity test.

2. THE TEST OF DEVOTION TO GOD:
1. The Israelites reflected a low degree of loyalty and devotion to God. Other things were more important to them. They expressed their disloyalty by saying, "What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the LORD Almighty that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will say, 'Blessed are the arrogant.' For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them go free of harm.'" Malachi 3:15 (NLT). How disloyal can you be?
2. One thing you can bank on is His devotion to us! He is loyal! He said, "'I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned My laws and failed to obey them. Now return to Me, and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:6-7 (NLT). If God's loyalty and faithfulness were not true, these guys would have bought the farm long ago; they would have been deep-sixed. But God's faithfulness kept His mercy and grace in play.
3. So, are we faithful to God? Do we manifest devotion to Him and His church by bringing the whole tithe into His storehouse? If we do it demonstrates that:
1. We know that God owns everything, and He lets us use 90% of it so we gladly give back the 10%.
2. We are fully devoted to God. One of the hardest things to devote to God is our finances. Tithing shows devotion.
3. We are putting God first. Not after our recreation, or material needs, or our bank account.
4. We are willing to sacrifice a little for the cause of Him who sacrificed it all for us.
4. One man, a recent convert, decided that as a Christian he needed to give generously. He was a pig farmer and every year put up several choice hams. On one occasion he heard of a poor family in the church and decided to give a nice ham to help them out. On the way to the smoke house, Satan tempted him: "You don't have to give the biggest and best ham. Just find a little one that you can do without." As the tempting continued, the man said, "Satan, if you don't shut-up, I'll not only give the biggest and best ham, I'll give every ham in the smoke house!" That's an attitude of devotion.

So to receive a harvest we need also to pass the devotion test.

3. THE TEST OF TRUST IN GOD:
   1. God had promised to provide for His people. But, to claim the benefit of God's promise, they would have to trust Him by doing what He said. This is the only place in the Bible where man is invited to test God. But to test Him in this, we have to test ourselves and see if we really trust Him.
   2. Do we truly believe that God is able to do what He promised? Do we truly trust Him to keep His word? Do we honestly have confidence that God is not only able to promise but to perform? Listen to His promise and ask yourself, "Do I trust God to do that?"
   1. "He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Matthew 6:33 (NLT).
   2. "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." Luke 6:38 (NLT).
   3. "Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT).
   3. In spite of those promises, many worry, "Man! If I tithe, I won't have enough left over for what I need or want to do." The fact is, I can't afford not to tithe. Here's a mathematical conundrum: "When is 90% greater than 100%?" Now, mathematically, that's an oxymoron. How can part of the whole be greater than the whole? It can when the 90% is what God blesses after you give Him the first 10%!
   4. A man committed himself to tithe and did so regularly. But as his business prospered, so did his income. He realized that though his income was greater, so was his tithe. He went to his pastor and asked, "Is there a way to get out of a commitment I made to God? You see, I committed to tithe when I didn't make much money. But now I make so much I can't afford the tithe any longer." The pastor said, "I can't help you get out of that commitment, but let me pray with you. 'Lord, please shrink this brother's income, so he can trust You enough to tithe again." The man got the point and increased his giving.

So, how do you grade yourself on the test? Nobody besides you and God will know. But until we pass the test of integrity, the test of devotion, and the test of trust, those heavenly windows will stay tight shut. It is when we take God at His word, step out in faith, believe Him more than you believe your doubts, believe Him more than you believe your financial situation, and bring the full tithe that He will pour out blessings in many ways, so great you can't contain them. It may not be in coin of the realm; it may be in better health, or reduced spending, or many other ways. But God promised, and God will perform. Getting all that God has to offer depends on Him getting all we have to offer in faith. This is a moment of decision. Consider your life - is there something held back from God? Is there something that shuts off His blessing? Then surrender even that, along with your will, your plans, your resources, as we sing: "I surrender all!" When you do, expect a harvest.

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