By Janie Baer
Here is another example of the financial realm and the spirit realm being permanently tied together in this scripture of Malachi 3 with the tithe and the offering:
Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. KJV
Some people believe the tithe was just a part of the Old Testament. Let’s look at it again.
Malachi was a prophet and in this scripture of Mal 3:1, he was not speaking to his generation. He was speaking to a future generation and not his generation. This generation was the generation who was eagerly looking for the Lord, not for the first coming of the Lord but for the second coming of the Lord; because he said, “The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple.” Jesus didn’t come suddenly the first time but He will suddenly come the second time.
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: KJV
“The day of his coming” is referring to Jesus’ second coming to this earth.
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, KJV
Malachi here is talking about judgment, the second coming of Christ. Malachi in this chapter 3 was talking prophetically to the end time generation who is eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus Christ, His second coming, which is our generation.
Speaking to our generation He says,
Mal 3:6-7 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers KJV
“Of your fathers”, Malachi is talking about the father’s of this generation and not the father’s of the Jews. These are the fathers of this generation who are eagerly looking for the Lord’s second coming.
Mal 3:7-8 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. KJV
Malachi is speaking to an end time generation who is eagerly looking for the Lord and he says,
Mal 3:6-7 For I am the LORD, I change not;…KJV
That scripture silences everyone who speaks against tithing, saying it was under the Old Covenant and the Law only. That can’t be true for tithing predates the Law. The Law came with Moses but Abraham tithed to Melchizedek. Tithing is done under the Law and also goes beyond the Law; because Malachi, a prophet, is prophetically speaking to a future generation which is our generation.
This generation, from the time of our fathers, has been robbing God of the tithe and offerings with only 4 to 12% of Christians presently tithing.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. KJV
This is not talking about the Jews for Peter tells us,
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, KJV
Operating in the principles of God’s Word guarantees the blessing is in operation and things will overtake you so that you don’t have to chase down the blessings you want and desire outside the Kingdom way of getting them.
We have had our way how we spent our money and how we handled our financial affairs but if we are going to see the prosperity of the Kingdom we will have to repent and change to God’s way. Tithing is the way to repent and change.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, KJV
The tithe is ten percent of your gross increase from wages, gifts, rental properties, all increase. The tithe should be the first thing you do before you pay bills from your increase.