"Bring all the tithes 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 3:10
The Lord's purposes of wisdom and thoughts of love are
not intended practically to go before, or virtually to supersede the
personal obligations and efforts of His people. He will fully and faithfully
do His part, but He expects that they will as fully and faithfully do
theirs. They must roll the stone from off the sepulcher, and He will then
open it, and call back to life their buried and lamented mercy. They must
bring their tithes and offerings into His house, and He will then, as an
evidence of their acceptance, and as a proof of His faithfulness and love,
pour His blessings affluently into their lap.
"Bring all the tithes." My soul, what will you bring?
Lord, I bring a sinful heart--a depraved nature--an empty hand--a needy
soul. This is all I have. I dare not speak of my faith, it is so weak; or of
my love, it is so fluctuating; or of my service, it is so imperfect. I will
speak of nothing of my own, but will make mention of Your righteousness and
Yours only. I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the
Lord. But, my soul, remember that there must be no keeping back a part of
the tithe, for He commands you to bring all into His store-house.
Lord, let there be no reservation, mental, spiritual, or practical, in my
offerings. Oh, take the first, the best, take my all, who has given Yourself
and all that You have, for me.
"Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty." Oh
condescending love! Oh marvelous grace! Lord, do You delight to be brought
to the touchstone of Your word? Do You stoop to the test of Your people's
faith? Do You say, "Test me in this." Oh who is like unto You. My soul, draw
near and take Jesus at His word. Test Him now. Test His love,
and see if it will not embrace you. Test His power, and see if it
will not deliver you. Test His grace, and see if it will not be
sufficient for you. Test His fullness, and see if it will not supply
you. Test His blood, and see if it will not pardon you. Test His
invitation, and see if He will not receive you. Test His sympathy,
and see if He will not comfort you. Test His faithfulness, and
see if He will not make good all that He has promised--never leaving nor
forsaking you; loving you always, and loving you forever. Lord, I have
tested You a thousand times over, and have never found You to fail.
"I will pour out a blessing." The tithe of prayer and
faith thus unreservedly brought--the believing soul having done his part,
heaven's window is opened, and the blessing bountifully descends; and so God
does His. And oh, the preciousness and largeness of the gift! What an
outpouring of the Spirit will follow! What a reviving of grace in the soul!
What a bestowment of family blessing! What an increase of ministerial power!
What strength in service, guidance in perplexity, shielding in temptation,
soothing in grief, will descend in showers, when God draws aside the curtain
of heaven, throws open its window, and pours down its blessing, so large, so
copious, so expanding, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
My soul! what has hitherto withheld the blessing? Why
have the clouds poured down no fruitful showers, and the heavens distilled
no refreshing dew, and the sun emitted no vivifying warmth? Is it not
because you have not brought all your tithes into the treasury--prayer
restrained, faith distrusting, property withheld--thus bringing Him to the
test of His veracity to give you the blessing? "You have not called upon Me,
O Jacob; you have been weary of Me, O Israel!" Weary of You, my blessed
Lord? You are my only Rest. "Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is
none upon earth that I desire beside you."