Malachi: Loving God With All Your Heart

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

“‘Ever since the time of your forefathers 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?’ Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. ’’But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’

“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse -the whole nation of you -because you are robbing Me. 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 3:7-10

“No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed….” Luke 12:15

They were giving God their leftovers rather than their best.

“It is you… who show contempt for my name.” Malachi 1:6

Greed and materialism were problems.

We give to break the power of money and materialism in our lives.

We give to be reminded that all we have is from God.

“…Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:20

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. “ Matthew 23:23

2 Corinthians 8 & 9

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

“Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” Deuteronomy 14:23

Centre Street Church

“There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” Acts 4:34

1 Corinthians 16:1-4

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth….” Deuteronomy 8:17-18

“‘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

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

“God is our refuge and strength…” Psalm 46:1