Honour Him by Giving
ICS Daily Devotions
Malachi 3:10-11 (NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, ” If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. ” And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts.
Tithing began during Abraham’s era. Later, Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek, demonstrating that he recognised Melchizedek’s superiority. Melchizedek was known as the King of righteousness and peace. This aligns with Jesus’ attributes, and reminds us that the priesthood of Jesus is superior to the priesthood of men.
This was some 400 years before the law of Moses, but tithing as a practice of worship, specifically commanded by God in Scripture, didn’t come into its own until the law of Moses was given.
Its original purpose was to meet the needs of the Levites. However, it also served to give givers an opportunity to show their worship and dependence on God. It had a dual purpose: one practical, one spiritual.
We are called to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. In today’s context, this means the tithe goes to the church where you are receiving the Word, pastoral care and the work of the ministry.
The church will administer the funds, and leaders are responsible for budgeting and disbursing them appropriately. Therefore, when we give, we are giving unto the Lord in obedience to the Word. We leave it to the leaders, who are to be accountable to God, but we are free to voice our concerns at the congregational meeting because there is a system of checks and balances.
God is a great giver, the God of the How Much More. Our Heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask Him. Because He gave us His best in Jesus Christ, He will withhold nothing that we need from Him in this world. Nobody can outgive God. As illustrated in the Parable of the Talents, we need to be proven faithful with God’s finances so that we can be used as channels of His blessings.
As Christians, our confidence rests in God’s faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to honour His Word. We bring our tithes and offerings because we recognise God as the true source of our provision. Alongside serving Him with our gifts and talents, we choose to honour and worship Him through our giving. This practice keeps our hearts aligned with His, reminding us continually of our dependence on Him rather than on our own resources.
Reflection: Are you tithing and giving in obedience, and truly living according to God’s Word and principles? In what ways is God inviting you to trust Him more deeply through the act of giving?
Sermon Series: Worshipping the King of kings
