Practicing the Promises of God
Malachi 3:10
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1. The apostasy of the people
1:6; 2:11
A sign of that apostasy
1:8, 13
The cast off, the unwanted, the leftovers
Whatever we give should represent some measure of cost, sacrifice
(a) David - II Sam. 24:10-20
(b) Jesus, poor widow - Mk. 12:60-64
(c) Paul, church of Macedonia - II Cor. 8:1, 2

2. The call of the prophet
3:7 "Let us return to God."
(a) God's call to Jacob - "Arise. . . Bethel" Gen. 31:13
(b) Hymn - "Back to Bethel" " 35.1

3. The answer of the people
3:7b - "Let us return. But how? Wherein?"

4. The reply of the prophet
3:10 - In your sense of stewardship

Why this?

What A Sense of Stewardship Will Do For A People

I. Carries With It The Spiritual, Moral Values Of Faith, Trust In God

1. If seek just the profit, if tithing like buying or trading, no moral spiritual value.
If $10 for every $1 you give, 10-fold, two-fold, etc. then most avaricious man in town would be most avid tither. Becomes just another gimmick to get money from an unwilling, reluctant people.
The blessing in the walk of trust, faith in the Lord. People need an experience with God. Shrewd schemes, clever manipulation, human ingenuity a waste. Unspiritual, unrevived people will never respond no matter how shrewd the plan. The need -- not more ingenious schemes, but an experience with the Lord.
(a) Austin Crouch, arrangement at the table --
Zech. 4:6
God interested in, not the possession, but the possessor
" " tithe " tither
" not what you have, but you
2. The experience with God makes the difference
(a) Zaccheus - Lk. 19:8 One-half to the needy, if taken wrongfully
The commitment to God makes the difference
(b) Conversation between pastor and a member
If 1/10 to God, then 9/10 no obligation to use for God
Pastor on security of believer. "If I believed that, could sin all I want to."
So if dedicate 1/10 to God, the other 9/10 in ways to please Him.

Geo. W. Truett - "If a man right with God in stewardship, will be right in all his other relationships of life."
(c) Condition of the times, nothing to do with it
Hab. 3:1, 2, 17, 18
(d) Financial ableness nothing to do with it
Clan settlements, Nigeria - Mud church
Malaysian church . . . . . . .
How much want to sin? Drink, curse, steal?

II. Carries With It A Stated, Acknowledge Partnership With God

His breath, sunshine, rain, increase, harvest. None but God
My labor of love
cf. Paul - I Tim. 6:7

I owe a debt to him.
He my first creditor - Why the first fruits - Ex. 23:19; Prov. 3:8, 9
- 1/10 of income not mine; belongs to him, regardless what done with it
3:8 "robbed me" - robbed the church, the missionaries, etc.
- God collects. Not keep it
(a) Tract - "What We Owe and How to Pay It"

III. Carries With It the Most Abounding Blessings Gen. 7:11-13

The purpose of the tithe - bless us
- we step into the supernatural
1. Our own souls
Doing right, something inward
Spiritual graces abound in our hearts
"Never saw a dour-faced tither"
Life of God in the soul. Shines in the face
Worship becomes meaningful, glorious - Ps. 96:2-9

2. The kingdom work of our Lord.
"Giving to God" but another name for ministry to others, helping somebody else.
Preaching, teaching, assembling in worship; always for other people - Matt. 25:40

God says to Europe - 9 potatoes for you
1 " for your brother
" Asia - 9 grains of rice for you
1 " " for your brother
" Africa - 9 eggs for you
1 " for your brother
" America - 9 ears of corn for you
1 " " for your brother
9 for me
1 for my brother

cf. Not to blaspheme, comparing to God, but like God in this:
stars, heaven . . . "That's good."
verdant earth . . . "That's good."
birds, fowl, beasts . . "That's good."
So I . . . .seeing results of tithe given --
Seeing the children in S. S. . . . "That's good. I am glad I had a part."
" teenagers " " " "
" young marrieds " " " "
" prime of life " " " "
" older people " " " "
" city missions " " " "
" foreign fields " " " "