“The Ammonite and Moabite Armies are Destroyed”
Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Nehemiah 13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
2 Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
There are those who complain about giving to God. They don’t complain about giving to Wal-Mart when they go buy a big screen TV or to their pharmaceutical company when they pick up their medicines or to the movie theater when they pay to see a movie. But it is fashionable to complain when asked to give to God.
God is the only one who offers a benefit for giving. Try getting this from Wal-Mart, your pharmacy, your movie theater or anyone else.
Malachi 3:10 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.
It is worth reading that in the context of the whole chapter.
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
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.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
There are those that complain that they don’t want to give because they think the funds are misappropriated.
There are ministries who have audits so if that concerns you, find one.
And out of all the probably hundreds of thousands of churches, ministries, and gospel-based organizations you can’t find one you believe in giving to…did you look very hard?
You should give to the church you eat from, in terms of spiritual food and nourishment and teaching. Find the church that feeds you the gospel.
You don’t eat at McDonald’s and pay Chik-fil-a or vice versa.
You don’t buy a Honda and pay Ford.
The natural world is structured after the spiritual world, and not vice versa.
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Principles of order, of remittance for benefits received, still apply.
I Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Probably one of the biggest failures to “give back” for benefits received applies to God.
God is often looked on like a lottery machine, a slot machine; throw up a prayer, toss in an offering, and hope the blessings will come out.
And then there is complaining when there is not a flood of blessings.
A walk with God is a lifestyle, not a toss up or a flipping of the coin.
We would question the idea that a one-time change of a meal and a one-time trip to a gym would solve all health problems and give someone a award winning physique. We know better. We would question the idea that someone could even think that that might be possible.
It’s a lifestyle. It takes a healthy lifestyle to have ongoing health.
When it comes to God, an occasional visit at Easter and Christmas will not do what ongoing regular church, Bible study, regular devotions, and a relationship with the Lord will accomplish.
Yet, in this world that tempts us with quick and easy fixes to everything…the 7 day diet, cramming for the mid-term tests, life hacks…perhaps that influences thinking regarding God as well.
Slow and steady wins the race. The tortoise won, not the hare*.
* Since some in today’s audience may not know Aesop’s fable, it is reproduced here.
The Hare and the Tortoise The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. “I have never yet been beaten,” said he, “when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me.” The Tortoise said quietly, “I accept your challenge.” “That is a good joke,” said the Hare; “I could dance round you all the way.” “Keep your boasting till you’ve beaten,” answered the Tortoise. “Shall we race?” So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said the Tortoise: “Plodding wins the race.”
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