Wednesday 11 January: The Tithe Contract  

A: The obligations found in Malachi 3:7-11 are met with promises. They are:  

• Return to God and God will return to you.  
• Bring all tithes into the storehouse so that there is food in God’s House. Then God will pour out a blessing so big ‘that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’ God will also prevent pests from devouring crops or fruits dropping off the vine before ripening.  

When we are blessed so greatly, we can bless others.  

‘God’s plan regarding tithes and offerings is definitely stated in the third chapter of Malachi. God calls upon His human agents to be true to the contract He has made with them.’ (Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, p.75) 

The people of Israel and Judah obeyed God by tithing on everything they had (2 Chronicles 31:5) 

A: Applying Malachi 3:7-11 my lack of tithing says there is a lack of faith in my own spirituality and relationship to God. Having a low income, I don’t see how I can tithe, give generously and live so I have often opted to do the latter two. When I think back to times when I’ve consistently paid tithe, I’ve never been worse off. I do need to seek God’s guidance on this.