DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY, JULY 16, 2012

DEVOTION – MONDAY,  JULY 16, 2012

A DEVOTIONAL

FROM

DR. ED YOUNG

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test 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 a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts. All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts. - Malachi 3:10-12

Blessed nations are giving nations. The tithe is the first tenth of one’s income. The “firstfruits” principle is all through the Bible, from Abel and his gift of the first and best of his harvest, to God’s command to the Promised Land-bound Hebrews to set apart their firstborn son, to the Proverbs admonition to honor the Lord with the firstfruits. The “storehouse” in Malachi’s day was the Temple. Now, it is the local church. When God’s people honor Him with firstfruits giving, there is a radiating effect outward to society itself, resulting in generosity and blessing.