The prophet Malachi records God’s chastisement of the Israelites for withholding part of the required tithe. This is the only time in Scripture where God challenges His people to “put me to the test” (v. 10a). I have heard Mike preach on numerous occasions that “you cannot outgive God.” God tells the Israelites that if they obey His command to tithe faithfully, the “windows of heaven” will open, and He will “pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (v. 10b).
Why, then, do we steal from God? If you believe that all we possess comes from God and that we are merely stewards of His blessings, then stealing from Him should never cross your mind. However, ever since the Fall, trusting God to provide for our every need has often been a struggle. The original sin in the Garden was born from a desire to possess something that God had forbidden. The fruit appealed to Eve’s senses of sight and taste, and she desired it because of its promise of wisdom (Gen. 3). Eve did not trust God to fulfill her heart’s desires, so she took matters into her own hands. She stole what rightfully belonged to God, and the rest is history.
David writes, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps. 24:1). God created it, and He owns it all. He uniquely blesses each of us with time, talent, and treasure. When we selfishly misuse one or more of these gifts, we dishonor the Giver. As Paul writes to the church in Rome, “You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? … You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law” (Rom. 2:21, 23).
We dishonor God when we steal time from Him or from others. If we fail to support the church or to give generously to others when the opportunity arises, we violate this commandment. If your life experiences or God-given talents are not used in service to your fellow man, you deprive those in need of the very gifts God has entrusted to your care. I am not saying that God blesses us solely so we can bless others. Rather, I am saying that we should receive every blessing of time, talent, and treasure with open hands, allowing those blessings to flow through us to others. As Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (Luke 6:38).
