Economic or Spiritual Crisis

Mal 3:7-12

7 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.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

The day in which Malachi prophesied was much like America in the year 2009. Corrupt religious practices and leaders abounded. The ignoring of God's law was commonplace. Easy divorce prevailed. The people of God had robbed Him of that which belonged to Him, tithes and offerings.

A recent (2006) survey indicated the average professing Christian in America gave 2.2% of their income to their local congregation. The Bible is clear that the standard of Christian giving to your local congregation begins with 10% and should go beyond that in special offerings.

It is very easy for us to set behind our stained glass windows and criticize our culture for the decay of our day. It is equally as painless for us to disparage our politicians for poor decisions. It is painless for us to find fault with corporate America and its abuses.

However, we as Bible believing Christians must in honesty accept a large portion of the responsibility for the economic mess we are in. We have robbed God and ignored His commands. How can we expect God to bless us individually or as a nation? Malachi pronounced a curse upon his nation for robbing God in tithes and offerings. Why should we be exempt?

As is most often true the problem we face is not economic. God is not broke and heaven is not in a recession. The problem we face is spiritual. It is time for the church to experience a genuine spiritual revival. A good place to begin is with the tithe that belongs to Him.

Attempting to connect the dots…

Wayne
Romans 1:16

Quotable:
"Money is a great treasure that only increases as you give it away."

— Lord Francis Bacon