Trinity Fellowship
10/26/25
  • The Lion And The Lamb

      • 1 Peter 3:13-15CSB

      • 1 Peter 3:16-17CSB

  • Praise You In This Storm
  • Hope Has A Name
  • Amazing Grace
  • Let’s begin by reading Malachi 3:7-12 in full.
    Malachi 3:7–12 CSB
    7 “Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return?”
    Malachi 3:7–12 CSB
    8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing me.
    Malachi 3:7–12 CSB
    10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.
    Malachi 3:7–12 CSB
    11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Armies. 12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Armies.
    Before we dive into the passage, I want to help us understand something absolutely crucial about the nation of Israel that many people miss—and it completely changes how we should read not just this passage, but most of the Old Testament.
    It matters, because if we get the context wrong, we'll get the application wrong. And when we get the application wrong with passages about money and giving, it can spiritually hinder people for years.
    Anytime I think about this topic, I can’t help but remember the large Baptist church I began attending In Alaska right after being saved and returning home from my deployment in the Middle East. The pastor of this church who baptized me was a force— not only in the pulpit, but also in the public sphere of public opinion.
    In those days he was the main voice in Anchorage for the always controversial “Moral Majority”. He would boldly accept invitations from the local rock n roll radio station morning shows where the dj’s would attempt to shame him on the air by asking gotcha’ questions about his conservative views.
    One of the things I remembered about this dynamic preacher was the way he ended every one of his sermons. It always ended right before they would take up the offering and he would use this passage in Malachi to transition to it. He would say “Are you robbing God? God says to bring in the whole tithe into his storehouse. God says to you “Test me in this and see that I will not pour out an abundant blessing on you..”
    It’s funny, but kind of sad because over the years, I've known too many believers live under a sense of condemnation because they thought God was calling them a thief for not giving 10% to the church.
    I've seen others fall into prosperity gospel deception, believing that God promises them financial returns for their giving. Both errors come from the same mistake: misunderstanding what kind of nation Israel was and what the tithe system actually accomplished.
    So before we talk about what this passage means for us today, we need to understand what it meant for them. Because the spiritual principles found in this passage about giving to God’s work are transferable, but the system is not. The heart issues related to giving to God transcends time and culture, but the specific structure was unique to Israel's situation.
    Here's the key insight that changes everything: Israel wasn't like any modern nation you know. They weren't a democracy, a republic, or even a typical monarchy. Israel was something entirely different—something that hasn't existed anywhere else in history and doesn't exist today.
    And once you understand what Israel actually was, everything about the tithe system—and this passage in Malachi—will make perfect sense. More importantly, you'll be free to apply it correctly to your life without distorting God’s Word, or falling into legalism or false expectations.
    So what kind of nation was Israel?
    Israel was a Theocracy
    What does that mean? It means God was literally their king, their government, their entire political system. There was no separation of church and state because church and state were the same thing.
    Think about it—On Mt. Sinai, Moses didn't just give them religious rules; he gave them civil laws, criminal codes, economic policies, and foreign relations guidelines.
    The priests weren't just religious leaders; they were judges, teachers, government administrators, and social workers. The temple wasn't just a place of worship; it was the capitol building, the courthouse, the university, and the welfare office all rolled into one.
    So when we read about tithing in the Old Testament, we're not reading about church offerings. We're reading about taxes—the tithewas the tax system that funded God's government of Israel. It was codified into law.
    Now here's what many people who insist on the tithing system don't know: there wasn't just one tithe.
    There were three separate tithes, and they added up to much more than 10%.
    The Three-Tithe System: 23% Annual Tax Rate
    First, the Levitical Tithe—10% every year. This went to support the Levites, who were essentially government employees. They didn't get land when Israel conquered Canaan; instead, their job was to run the religious and civil systems. This tithe was their salary. It's like how your tax dollars today pay the salaries of teachers, police officers, and government workers.
    Second, the Festival Tithe—another 10% every year. This was like a mandatory vacation fund. God required all Israelite men to appear in Jerusalem three times a year for major festivals, and skipping out on those festivals because things were a little tight was not an option. Why, because this tithe paid for their travel expenses, food, lodging, and celebration costs. Imagine men, if our government required you and I to attend national celebrations in Washington D.C. three times a year and taxed you during the year to cover the expenses. That’s what that was
    Third, the Poor Tithe—10% every third year. This was the social welfare system. It supported widows, orphans, foreigners, and needy Levites. This averages out to 3.3% per year. Today, we'd call this social security, unemployment benefits, and welfare programs.
    Add it up: 10% + 10% + 3.3% = 23.3% every year. Plus additional offerings and sacrifices. So when we talk about Old Testament tithing, we're talking about a total tax burden of 25-30% of annual income. That's not too different from what many Americans pay in combined federal, state, local, and social security taxes today.
    Here's another crucial detail: the tithe wasn't money. Giving money was frowned on and restricted.
    What was tithed was crops and livestock.
    Agricultural Products, Not Money
    Leviticus 27:30 says,
    Leviticus 27:30 ESV
    30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.
    Deuteronomy 14:23 it mentions
    Deuteronomy 14:23 ESV
    23 …the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, …
    Only agricultural products were tithed. Why agricultural products and not money? Because Israel was an agricultural society where wealth was measured in land and livestock, not currency. The tithe came from the land because the land was God's specific gift to Israel—"The land is mine; you are but strangers and sojourners with me," God said in Leviticus 25:23.
    Now, could you substitute money? Yes, but there was a steep penalty:
    Tithing and Money:
    Conversion penalized 20% Leviticus 27:31 says if you wanted to "redeem" your agricultural tithe with money, you had to pay 120% of its value. This wasn't God being mean—it was God showing that the system was designed for agricultural products from the Promised Land, not universal monetary principles.
    Were there any exceptions? Yes was one exception:
    Distance exception: if you lived too far from Jerusalem to transport your crops for the Festival Tithe, you could sell them locally, bring the money to Jerusalem, but then you had to spend that money on food and drink for the festival. So even then, the end goal was still agricultural consumption.
    Here's another detail that changes everything:
    Only Levites Could Receive Tithes
    Numbers 18:21 is crystal clear:
    Numbers 18:21 CSB
    21 “Look, I have given the Levites every tenth in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the work of the tent of meeting.
    Not some tithes—every tithe. Not to everyone—to Levites specifically.
    This means it would have been illegal under Old Testament law for Jesus to receive tithes. Why? Because Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.
    Think about the implications: if tithing is a universal principle that applies to all believers, why couldn't the Son of God receive tithes during His earthly ministry? Why couldn’t the Apostles? The answer is simple—because the tithe system was specifically designed for a unique theocratic arrangement that no longer exists.
    What Jesus actually received was voluntary monetary gifts from supporters like the women mentioned in Luke 8:1-3, he hospitality when people opened their homes to Him, and love offerings like when Mary poured expensive perfume on His feet. But never tithes—because that would have violated God's law.
    The System is Obsolete
    The entire Levitical system—including tithing—was fulfilled in Christ. The theocracy is gone.
    Because of this, It is impossible for a Christian to obey the law of the tithe- even if you wanted to because we don't have Levites today. We don't have a temple in Jerusalem. We don't have a theocracy where religious and civil government are the same. And we don't have an agricultural economy based on land inheritance located in the Promised Land.
    So when Malachi confronts Israel about robbing God in tithes and offerings, he's not establishing a universal principle for church giving. He's addressing a specific covenant community that was failing to fund their theocratic government according to God's established system.
    So while this passage todaydoes not teach that Christians are obligated to pay 10% of their income to avoid robbing God, it does provide us with some profound insights— most important of which is that we see how the spiritual drift that plagued ancient Israel, can also plague us.
    So today, in the time we have left we want to ask and answer the question:
    Main Question: How should believers respond when giving to God feels burdensome or optional?
    in these passages we will:
    Discover how our giving patterns serve as a diagnostic tool revealing our heart conditions,
    Gain a window into God's heart for faithful financial stewardship,
    Find a rich source of transferable principles about generosity and trust in God's provision.
    Look dive into this at verse seven…
    Malachi 3:7 CSB
    7 “Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return?”
    Notice here how Malachi closely equates the statutes of God with God himself and so by turning from the statutes, the Israelites were turning from God. The Heb. implies a steady and deliberate departure— this was not an accidental turning. He states that this turning had been happening “since the days of your ancestors”. This meant that generations of Israelites had ‘turned’ from God’s ways.
    The answer, was to return, but the Israelites responded with “How can we return?” God touched on a heart issue, but they were so enculturated into an apathetic posture before God that they were not even aware of this relational slide— this steady drift away from the Lord.
    In response to their question, Malachi gets more specific in verse eight…
    Malachi 3:8 CSB
    8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.
    The word Malachi uses for the word ‘rob’ here is a strong term meaning to steal or defraud, used only here in the OT regarding God. This kind of verbiage is intended to rouse awake these clueless Israelites to the seriousness of their apathy towards the things of God. Still oblivious they ask him, “How do we rob you?” to which the prophet responds “By not making the payments of the tenth,”— notice the plural term here “payments”, — more than one “and the contributions”.
    This was NOT just a spiritual oversight. This was a criminal offense in Israel. Think about what would happen if you decided you were not going to pay your taxes.
    Continue in verse 9:
    Malachi 3:9 CSB
    9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing me.
    When Malachi mentions being "cursed with a curse" (3:9), his original audience would immediately think of the covenant curses in …
    Deuteronomy 28:38–39 CSB
    38 “You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because locusts will devour it. 39 You will plant and cultivate vineyards but not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.
    Malachi 3:10 CSB
    10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house.
    God appealed to the nation to bring in the full tenth into the storehouse. The temple served as the primary storehouse for those in Jerusalem.
    How It Worked:
    Israelites gave tithes to local Levites- in their communities.The Levites lived "in scattered areas, usually near one of the 48 specially designated cities (Numbers 35:6)" and "the VAST majority of the tithes (9%) that the Levites received were not placed in the 'storehouse' of the Temple, but rather, they were used to support the Levites and their families who lived in cities throughout all of the land of Israel (48 cities: Num 35:1-8)."
    Levites gave "tithe of the tithe". In Nehemiah's day (Neh 10:37ff.) the Levites collected the tithe in all the cities and towns under the oversight of a priest, then delivered the tithe of the tithes (1%)to the storehouse in the Temple for the priests in Jerusalem.
    By not paying tithes, the Jews were failing to
    Support their theocratic government system
    Care for Levites (their religious/civil servants)
    Maintain the social safety net for widows, orphans, foreigners
    The consequence: National dysfunction when the support system collapsed.
    God appeals to the nation in verse 10
    Malachi 3:10 CSB
    10 … Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.
    "Put me to the test"- Rare invitation in Scripture
    Specific to Israel's covenant situation- Agricultural blessings for covenant obedience
    Demonstrates God's heart- God wants to bless His people
    Malachi 3:11 CSB
    11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Armies.
    This is similar to God’s promise in
    Proverbs 3:9–10 CSB
    9 Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; 10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
    This passage does NOT promise:
    Financial wealth for all who give 10%
    Material prosperity as proof of spiritual health
    Transactional relationship with God (give to get)
    This passage DOES reveal:
    God's heart to provide for His people
    The connection between trust and blessing
    The safety of trusting God over money
    The Transferable Principle: Faithful Stewardship
    What faithful stewardship looks like today:
    Planned giving - intentional, not leftover (2 Cor 9:7)
    Joyful giving - flows from gratitude, not obligation (2 Cor 9:7)
    2 Corinthians 9:7 CSB
    7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
    Proportional giving- based on how God has blessed you (1 Cor 16:2)
    1 Corinthians 16:2 CSB
    2 On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.
    Sacrificial giving- costs you something meaningful (2 Cor 8:1-5)
    2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV
    1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord…
    So how do we get there?
    The first step towards faithfully giving deliberately, joyfully, proportionally, and sacrificially to the work of God is to like Israel…
    I. Recognize Your Spiritual Drift (vv. 3:7-8; Heb 2:1; Rev 2:4-5; 1 Ki 11:4; Ho 11:7)
    Is drifted when they forgot their role as stewards. As Christians, drifting away from God begins the moment we forget that we, and all that we own— belongs to God.
    So what are some things we can ask ourselves to see if we have some spiritual drift?
    Track your spending patterns: Compare six months of entertainment/discretionary expenses to your giving—what does your bank statement say about your real priorities? I have Quiken…
    The "can't afford it" audit: When you say you can't afford to give, make a list of what you could afford that same week or month—what does this reveal? That may prove painful.
    Notice your decision speed: How long do you deliberate over a $50 restaurant meal versus a $50 offering? Quick spending on the meal vs. prolonged deliberation on giving to the work of God reveals drift.
    Examine your emergency response: When financial pressure hits, is giving the first expense you consider cutting, or do you look at entertainment, dining out, and subscriptions first?
    Check your prayer life: Is giving integrated into your regular conversations with God, or is it completely separate from your spiritual life?
    Assess your joy level: When did you last feel genuine joy and excitement in giving rather than obligation, guilt, or duty?
    If you detect spiritual drift by doing this audit, confess it to God, and then…
    II. Return to Faithful Stewardship (vv. 3:8-10a; Jl 2:12-13; 1 Cor 4:2; Luke 16:10-11; 2 Chr 31:20-21)
    Start small but start now: Begin with percentage-based giving even if it's only 1-2%—consistency and faithfulness matter more than the amount initially.
    Automate your faithfulness: Set up automatic giving like you do automatic savings—remove the monthly decision fatigue and make generosity your default, not your afterthought.
    Practice first-fruits giving: Give at the beginning of each pay period before other expenses, not from whatever is left over at the end of the month.
    Redirect one expense: Identify one discretionary expense (subscription service, dining out, coffee purchases) and redirect that amount to giving this month.
    Pray specifically about provision: Before making giving decisions, spend time thanking God for specific ways He has provided and ask Him to guide your stewardship.
    Connect giving to worship: Make your giving an act of worship by praying over your gift, thanking God for His grace, and remembering that everything belongs to Him.
    Once youn begin returning to a place of faithful stewardship…
    III. Rely on God's Abundant Provision (vv. 10b-12; Phil 4:19; 2 Cor 9:8-11; Matt 6:26; Psa 23:1)
    Give from God's character, not your bank account: Remember that your giving is based on God's faithfulness and abundance, not your current financial situation or feelings.
    Connect your giving to God's kingdom impact: See your generosity as investing in eternal work that God will multiply—focus on spiritual returns, not just material ones.
    Test God's promise gradually: Start with smaller acts of generous giving and watch for God's provision—let experience build your faith for greater trust.
    Shift from scarcity to abundance thinking: When tempted to hoard "just in case," remind yourself that God owns everything and delights in providing for you.
    Practice contentment with God's timing: Trust that God's provision may not always match your timeline or expectations, but His timing is perfect for your spiritual growth.
    Replace financial worry with worship: When anxious about money, deliberately choose to worship God for His past provision and trust in His future faithfulness.
    Big Idea: When giving feels optional, recognize your spiritual drift, return to faithful stewardship, and rely on God's abundant provision.
    The Real Issue: Malachi wasn't primarily concerned with Israel's tax compliance—he was diagnosing spiritual heart disease. Their closed hands revealed closed hearts. Our giving patterns still reveal our heart condition. Not because we're under OT law, but because generosity flows from gratitude.
    We don't give to earn God's blessing—we give because we've already received His ultimate blessing in Christ. We don't give from fear of cursing—we give from joy of grace.
    Will you allow God to examine your heart through your giving? Will you trust His provision enough to be generous?
    Prayer: "God, examine our hearts through our giving. Show us where we've drifted from trusting You. Transform our hearts by Your grace so that our generosity flows from gratitude, not obligation. Help us to be faithful stewards who trust Your provision and invest in Your kingdom work. In Jesus' name, Amen."

      • Acts 26:4–11CSB

      • 1 Timothy 1:12–14CSB

      • Acts 26:12–14CSB

      • John 7:16–17CSB

      • Acts 26:15CSB

      • Ephesians 2:8–9CSB

      • Acts 26:16–23CSB

      • Philippians 2:12–13CSB

      • 2 Peter 3:18CSB

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