Thieves!

I was reading a story online about a robber who walked into a bank, slid a note to a teller and walked out with thousands and thousands of dollars. He simply woke up that morning, walked in and robbed them!

There are other stories out there too....

teenagers rob a convenience store
a little girl steals from Target
two men beat up and then steal from an elderly 85 year old woman

I remember when I was teaching and a little girl in my class stole some stickers from another student. She wouldn't fess up so we had to sit and wait. The entire class had no recess until the thief was found out. She didn't want to confess. She didn't want to be known as the one who stole.

THEFT. ROBBERY. TAKING WHAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.

I read those stories and think, "Well, I would NEVER do that!" or "That is so bold and so incredibly wrong!"

I mean beating up a little old grandma just to get money!

In Malachi 3:9 God tells the descendants of Jacob that they are cursed because they are thieves!  They are CURSED because they are thieves!!!

Well, how could they? Whom are they robbing? Ouch....CURSED!

"You are under a curse- the whole nation- because you are robbing me! In tithes and offerings!"

EEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!

Conviction!

They are not giving their first to the Lord. They are robbing God by taking what is not theirs. God's word is clear that our first fruits belong to HIM!  And here, in this verse, He reminds us that we too are thieves! We too steal. And worse than anything...we steal from HIM!

So sisters...ask yourself the hard question...are you giving the Lord your full tithe and offering?

Every month?
Consistently?
With joy?
Without hesitation?

Guess what...the story gets better....

God goes on to tell the people that if they would just honor him in this, He will remove the curse and BLESS THEM ABUNDANTLY! 

"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 you will not have room enough for it!"

Malachi 3:10

SO MUCH BLESSING THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT!!!!!!

Did you get that my sisters?

I know in my life I have seen this verse come alive. When I give my first fruits, without hesitation....when I get my paycheck and immediately give a portion to the Lord's work...then, my storehouse fills abundantly!

Just this month I have been a witness to this verse.

I was paid. I gave my tithe. I waited.

A check came in the mail that was 100% more than my tithe....with the note attached saying, "Use this how you wish for Lucy. We have been moved by the Holy Spirit in seeing her here."

A second check came with the note, "This is for Lucy. Papa would have wanted her to have it."

And an email came saying, "This year we will plant a field of sweet corn and call it 'Lucy's field'. The profits from the sale of the corn will go toward the care of Lucy!"

TEST HIM IN THIS my sisters!

Dear Lord, I pray that I not become a thief. I pray that my greed, my insecurity, my want does not cause me to rob from you the first fruits you so deserve. Every penny Lord comes from you. Let me be reminded to give just the first to you...that's all you ask. I pray Lord that you then bless us abundantly...not so I can buy more or eat more or have more...but so I can in return give more and further glorify you!