The Book of MalachiÀpẹrẹ

Generosity

Money is a sensitive topic for most, and yet God tackles it head on in the conversation with His people in Malachi 3:6-12. God starts by reminding them of His unchanging character, inviting them to come back to Him with wholehearted devotion. He makes it clear that even though they’ve been unfaithful to Him (robbing Him of tithes and offerings), His steadfast faithfulness to them means they can turn back to Him and be restored. God isn’t hung up on the people’s outward action of giving. He’s concerned about their hearts.

God wanted His people to give so they’d live out, practically, the truth that they were merely stewards of God’s stuff, on loan to them. In Malachi 3:10-12, He dares them, as if He’s saying, ‘Just you wait and see how I’ll pour out My blessing on you like you’ve never seen before.’ This isn’t a transactional thing – like the Prosperity Gospel, where what you put in, you get out (and then some). God’s people would’ve been looking forward to the coming Messiah who would one day bring about the ultimate spiritual blessing of a new family of forgiven believers empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is clear that wealth can be dangerous, but it’s worth noting that we shouldn’t go to the other extreme, wrongly downplaying God’s blessing and provision, evidence of which we find throughout scripture. The problem isn’t money itself, but our hearts. Money can be bad if it leads to greed and coveting. But it can also be good if it leads to sacrifice and generosity.

Obediently giving to God doesn’t always lead to material blessing. Loads of faithful disciples throughout the scriptures were poor. Equally, it’s not a sin to have lots of cash – but watch your heart closely. If you don’t have much and struggle to get by, the principles are the same. Your lack of material wealth isn’t because God is cursing you. In fact, you can still give proportionally, generously, and sacrificially as you trust God to meet your needs.

Let me leave you with three ideas:

1. The New Testament doesn’t stipulate a hard-and-fast rule for giving or specify an amount. We’re free to give what we choose – generously, cheerfully, and sacrificially (not grudgingly and not out of guilt or shame). Just allow this to challenge you to think about how much you give, and why.
2. Jesus is our ultimate example of generosity. ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.’ (2 Corinthians 8:9) Jesus gave for the good of people and the glory of God.
3. As you give, you’ll see how generous God is in blessing you, in this life or the next, materially or in myriad other ways that reflect His covenant promise.