Slices
Prepare
‘Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are “the same yesterday and today and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). Amen.’
Bible passage
Breaking covenant by withholding tithes
6 ‘I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.
‘But you ask, “How are we to return?”
8 ‘Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
‘But you ask, “How are we robbing you?”
‘In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the Lord Almighty. 12 ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Israel speaks arrogantly against God
13 ‘You have spoken arrogantly against me,’ says the Lord.
‘Yet you ask, “What have we said against you?”
14 ‘You have said, “It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.”’
The faithful remnant
16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honoured his name.
17 ‘On the day when I act,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
Explore
Living through global crises, whether a COVID pandemic, climate change, racial injustice or widespread poverty, is challenging. Being confident in an unchanging God enables us to look forward with hope. In this passage, Israel is experiencing crisis; despite returning from exile, rebuilding the Temple, they continue to live under Persian domination. The people are cynical and disillusioned. A crisis brings uncertainty and presents a turning point, a moment of crucial decision making. Israel could choose to return to God, to live in accordance with the law, following him, whatever their circumstances – God promises this would bring them blessing (vs 10–12).
Instead, they choose to blame God, becoming arrogant and self-centred (vs 13–15). They can’t look past their own misfortunes. Ignoring the truth that everything comes from God, they refuse to tithe according to the law and complain that serving God is like being in mourning. Unrepentant they live outside the joy, blessing and promises of God.
I love that we’re told that those who remain faithful, trusting God through this time of crisis, talk with one another (v 16). It’s so important to share stories of faith, encouraging each other about our unchanging God. It’s not always easy, but when we choose to follow Jesus, he listens, watches over us with compassion and names us as his treasured possession.
Respond
Jesus says: ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10). What does this mean for you?
Deeper Bible study
‘Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.’1 Do you share David’s sense of dependence on, and gratitude to, God?
Malachi 3:6–12 sits between two oracles about God’s justice. Malachi’s hearers can question God’s justice only because he is unchanging in his compassion, slowness to anger and forgiveness.2 Despite their disobedience, he leaves time for them to repent (‘return’; v 7). When they ask in what way they need to return, Malachi gives another example of their covenant-breaking: failure to give the required tithes of their produce. These provided for the upkeep of the priests and Temple service and care for the poor in the community.3 They seemed to think that God was not blessing them as they expected and so they lacked the means to give the tithes. However, the tithes were meant as recognition that the land was God’s, not theirs, and that he gave them the strength and ability to use it as his stewards, who should give the tithes out of gratitude. The blessings promised in verses 10 and 11 follow from living in a covenant relationship with God, they are not a payback for tithing.4
Should Christians tithe? Jesus does not require it of his followers and Paul gives general guidance only.5 Giving should be systematic and thoughtful in a willing, cheerful and generous spirit. The amount given should be proportionate to what we have and to the needs of those less well off. What we give is acceptable to God ‘according to what one has, not according to what one does not have’.6
The second oracle about God’s justice is an assurance that God does know and care about how people are behaving. He will come in judgement and vindicate those who have feared him. Because they have honoured his name he knows and will remember their names. They will become his ‘treasured possession’ (v 17). This is an assurance that is also given to Christians.7
Study Paul’s teaching on giving and review your giving in the light of what he says.
1 1 Chr 29:14 2 Exod 34:6,7 3 Deut 14:22–29 4 Deut 28:3–12 5 1 Cor 16:1,2; 2 Cor 8:8–15; 9:6–11 6 2 Cor 8:12 7 Eph 1:14
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Hosea 11,12; Revelation 3
Pray for Scripture Union
With Christmas just a few weeks away, please pray for God to bless those Faith Guides and churches as they plan seasonal mission activities for children, families and young people in their communities.
