HEALTHY HABITS Your Money Matters January 29, 2017 Malachi 3:6-12

Vision, soul, physical body, and today – finances, the one thing Jesus talks more about second only to love. The truth is, Jesus knew the power money has over us and how money can be one of the last areas of lives that we are willing to give over to God. So, today we’re going take some time to talk about how we can get this part of our lives in balance with what God wants so that we aren’t going wonky with our finances.

As Christians, we form our understanding of Christian giving from what God says. Here’s the problem, we allow the way we see the world and opinions the world has about Christianity and Christian giving to stray from the Bible. And while we know that the culture of me and wanting what I want is absolutely unbiblical we like having more in our pockets…there’s a comfort that comes from money in our pockets.

Our response to all God has done for us and all God has given us should be to make God our number one priority. And God wants us to get to a place where we trust and believe that if we obey what God says that He will supply all our needs based on His promises and good will towards us. But, look at the world we’re living in. Things are not secure and tax season is coming which is not far off of the place where people were at when this guy Malachi was talking to over 2000 years ago. So, let’s take a look at this passage in Malachi to see what we can learn about how God calls us to live with our money. Turn with me to:

Malachi 3:6-7 6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’

All throughout the Old Testament you see God’s chosen people struggling to follow God with a faithful heart; they were often tempted to follow foreign god’s, they’re distracted by shinny things all the time. They believed but, their actions didn’t come from their beliefs. The beliefs they had in their heads were not being lived out in the ways they were living their lives. Their desires we driving their pursuits. And that’s true for us too…what we want drives our actions. Some people are driven by accumulating wealth, others are driven by material possessions, and many just live lives that are solely geared toward having fun. The problem is - we allow these desires and pursuits to turn our top priority and focus away from an intimate relationship with God.

Side note: this is why I love the Bible – because the names of the people change, cultures and customs change, objects of affections change, but human behavior has never changed – it’s what makes this Bible relevant to us today. Follow me for a moment: the same way they got distracted back then, is the same way that we find ourselves distracted from God today. As the saying goes – there is nothing new under the sun.

So, before God ever mentions money – He calls the people to “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” In other words, God must be our first priority. God is not a second-place God. God wants and requires us to make our relationship with Him out highest priority. Ultimately, God is saying – this is a heart thing. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

God has no problem with meeting our needs and blessing us abundantly; but, He wants us to acknowledge that God is number one in our hearts – first and foremost!

I find it interesting that Israel is confused by God’s call for them to return. They were convinced that they hadn’t gone anywhere. They had the gall to respond to God by saying – how can we return to a God that we had never left. But, God was calling the people to make Him their highest priority. So, God takes on the task of reorienting their hearts back toward Him…look at verses 7-8 Malachi 3: 7-8 But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Israel’s lack of, or shortage of giving to God was evidence that their hearts had drifted away from God. In fact, God felt that they had drifted so far that they had robbed or what some translations say cheating Him. Think about it: God freely gives us life, health, strength, family, intelligence, personality etc, etc. And we don’t have to beg God for these things; God gives to us freely. Everything! If you’ve worked hard in school to earn a degree, guess what? God gave you the intelligence, focus and work ethic. If you’re enjoying a beautiful marriage, guess what? God allowed your paths to cross. If you’re in a great career and making good money, guess what? God opened that opportunity for you! So, if God gives us EVERYTHING. God only asks for a portion in return. On God’s side, God gives us everything, on our side it’s one tenth of all we have. I know…stay with me.

I know that this can be tough and that it’s probably making some of us in the room feel uncomfortable. None of us would consciously or maliciously rob or cheat God. We love God. We serve God, right? But God is asking, do I have your heart, do you trust me or does your faith stop at just believing in me? Is this a head knowledge of me or is there a heartfelt love for God? All throughout the Scriptures the issue and topic of money is prevalent. Some scholars state that 60-70% of the teachings of Jesus involved money. Jesus said things like (Matthew 6:24) “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” So, let me make this point, and I will move on and I will stop meddling in your business. We live in a world where people always want to critique the church, especially in the area of money. Friends, as your pastor, I have to tell you the truth: Giving your tithe and offering is not so much about money as it is about the condition of the heart.

Giving your tithe and offering is about the condition of your heart.

If you keep reading this passage in Malachi, you see that God has a clear purpose for this biblical mandate to give. You ready? Look at:

Malachi 3:10-12 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.[a] Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

God requires our tithes because He uses our resources to bless us and the world around us. Friends, we are a part of something that is much bigger than anyone of us individually; we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Our open hearts, and giving hands make a difference. You remember when Jesus fed the multitude of people, some 5,000 men plus women and children? Jesus had been spiritually feeding the people – but when He realized that they needed food He had to think of a way to feed the multitude. How did He do it? There was a young boy with a small lunch box that had five pieces of fish and two small loaves of bread, and he offered what He had to Jesus, and Jesus made the difference. Here’s our truth: little becomes much, when we entrust it to Jesus.

The story of the little boy with the lunch box of food is not foreign to us CrossPoint. God has used our gifts, large and small, to launch a fourth campus, update and modify two other campuses; also, just look at how God uses our church to bless our sister church in Sierra Leone. We know all too well that God uses our willing hearts and open hands to bless people at our food pantry and clothing connection and through our H.I.M. ministry. Let’s take another step though: God actually gives us permission to put Him to the test. Look at verse 10, it says “put Me to the test”. Put God to the test? Yes, put God to the test! You know what that means? If you want to see God bless your life – bring the whole tithe and offering to God – and it says that He will “open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” In other words, God will rock your world with His blessings, if you trust Him. And let me just be clear: God doesn’t have to bless you with money for you to feel overwhelmed with blessings. In fact, some of you may not even need money right now. Somebody may be feeling pain in your body and you need God to pour out healing. Someone else may be tossing and turning all night long over a very important decision that needs to be made, God can pour out guidance and direction. But then there may be one that is worried about a child that may have lost their way, God can pour out peace that passes all understanding. Friends – God can bless you with way more than just money if our hearts are in the right place!

But we’re not done yet, stay with me, because there is another reason for giving to God. It’s in verse 11 – Do you see it? Israel depended on the land to produce its crop for their livelihood. They needed consistent rain, sunlight, and bug repellent for their crops. God promises to defend and protect their crops. Here’s another way to say it: God promises to bless the work of their hands. This simply tells us that God is willing and able to cause our efforts to flourish. And, God is willing and able to hold off any attacks that would hinder our efforts.

God doesn’t want us to live in poverty, or in lack. No, God wants us to live the abundant life. God wants us to enjoy His creation. But, He never wants us to exalt what’s created over the Creator. Israel was in trouble with God and it was evident by their lack of obedience in the area of giving. Jesus said it like this: (Matthew 6:21) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Before we ever talk about money, we should talk about our heart. God wants your heart. Your willingness to be a blessing to God’s Kingdom and God’s agenda reflects the sincerity of your heart. Here’s the gospel truth today Friends – God blesses you, to bless others.

So, the question that I must ask, in the most loving way possible is: Where is your heart? I don’t need to know where your checkbook is, or even where your Visa card is, they follow your heart. Have you returned to God, His purpose, His call and His will?