INTRODUCTION

The passage from Malachi shows that a man could rob God by simply withholding what God has requested of him. This robbing of God takes on two forms: not giving what God has required or giving less than one’s best to the Lord. The robber mistakenly imagines that his physical preservation depends upon the withholding of his goods from God and His work, but the opposite holds true. Instead of being blessed with more, the robber is cursed with less (Malachi 3:9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
See All...). By withholding from God, he suffers loss at the hands of the devourer (Malachi 3:11And 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.
See All...). If he would only choose to give to God, the LORD of hosts would open the windows of heaven and pour out a special blessing (Malachi 3:10Bring 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.
See All...). The described blessing is so bountiful “that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10Bring 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.
See All...), and it would be easily recognizable by others (Malachi 3:12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): People rob God because they do not believe what God has promised in His word. Consider these verses: Proverbs 3:9-10 [9] Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [10] So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
  See All...; Proverbs 11:25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
  See All...; Luke 6:38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
  See All...; Philippians 4:19
  See All.... Will you trust God to do what He says?
• (For everyone): The Israelites were robbing God but questioned where they were doing so (Malachi 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
  See All...). What does this teach us about man’s ability to recognize his own failures?
• By nature, we think by giving something we lose it, while withholding something means we keep it. How is this an unscriptural philosophy (see Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 [1] Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. [2] Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
  See All...)?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to show you if you have robbed Him in any way.
• Ask the Lord to show you His thoughts on withholding and giving.

HYMN

TRUST, TRY, AND PROVE ME

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