Most people don’t like tests. It starts in school where we are graded on our knowledge or lack thereof. God speaks of tests in the Bible but they are often associated with tests we are going through. He tells us not to test him, save for one area, giving of our money. We are told to test him and watch how he responds. He says “Test Me in this.”
Malachi 3:10
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 there will not be room enough to store it.
Bring It to the Storehouse
The temple was often referred to as the storehouse. It was a metaphor that everyone understood. When you completed the harvest you took your crops to the barn to store. The Israelites were to bring their tithes and offerings to the temple as an act of worship to the Lord. God promised them that if they did he would pour out more blessings than they brought in. Their barns would be overflowing.
Sticky Subject
Giving and tithing are sticky subjects in the church, but listen to these words: “Bring the whole tithe.” Tithe means ten percent. People in Malachi’s time were shortchanging God. They were only bringing a portion of that if any. Earlier in verse 8 Malachi says that was robbing God. When we don’t give biblically we are robbing both God and ourselves.
Take the Test
Money is one of the few areas God tells us to test Him on. If we obey He will open up the floodgates and pour out more blessing than we can handle. Many people are living in spiritual poverty because they are being disobedient in this area. God isn’t saying that you will be wealthy, but being faithful with your money will bring blessings beyond what you have right now. It’s a matter of trust. Are you going to trust God to provide for you today?