""Bring the whole tithe 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 there will not be room enough to store it""-Malachi 3:10 (NIV).

A theft report is found in verse 8; God tells Malachi mere mortals are robbing Him in tithes and offerings. "Many are poor because they rob God. Many churches, also, miss the visitation of the Spirit because they starve their ministries...hindered by an empty treasury" (C.H. Spurgeon). Our firstfruits honor God (Proverbs 3:9) and should be given with a cheerful heart (2 Corinthians 9:7). What kind of wisdom says to "give freely and gain even more" (Proverbs 11:24)? And the remainder of that proverb warns that withholding leads to poverty. What? This plan for money management doesn't "add up"...logically. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27a). God says to test Him and prepare for the abundant blessings.