Bring your best

Have you ever felt like you couldn't make ends meet no matter how hard you try?  Money runs out, food runs out, time runs out.  Sometimes we feel like we just can't get caught up. 

Well, I am going to give you the secret to having all that you need when you need it.  Actually, it's not a secret at all because it is clearly written in Malachi 3:8-12.  “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! ” You ask: “How do we rob You? ” “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.  You are suffering under a curse, yet you — the whole nation — are still robbing Me. 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 Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.  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 Hosts. “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Hosts. Malachi 3:8-12 HCSB

God owns EVERYTHING. Nothing on this earth, in this universe, in existence is here because of something we did.  God blesses us with it's use.  Even our time.  God gives us the time we have each day.  If He didn't, you would he dead. Ha! Have you ever thought of that?  If God didn't give you the next minute, you wouldn't even be reading the next line.

Because God owns it all and because of what He says in Malachi 3, we cheat Him when we don't give back to Him in thanksgiving.  God wants only a portion of what He has given.  He wants our best, off the top.  Each day, He wants a portion of our time. He doesn't want the few minutes we have after all of the chores have been done or the entertainment is complete.  He wants our best.  He wants the best of our money.  A percentage from all that we make or get.  He doesn't want what's left after taxes are paid, groceries are bought, bills are paid.  Deuteronomy 17:1 NLT says, "Never sacrafice sick or defective cattle, sheep, or goats to the Lord your God, for he detests such gifts."  He wants our best not leftovers.

When we look back at the scripture from Malachi, God promises that we will be taken care of if we do what is pleasing to Him.  If He is promising us blessings for giving in a way that is pleasing, why would we not give to Him the little that is requested? What makes paying the bill collectors more important than God? They are taking and never giving freely.  It makes no sense to me that we never want to short them but continuously short God.  And the time? We can work 10 hours a day for man, get paid a little money and may not even be appreciated. Yet, we get up everyday and go to work.

With saying that, don't give out of obligation or for what God will do in return.  Yes, God wants us to give and yes, He will bless us if we do, but God wants us to give because we love.  "Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver."
2 Corinthians 9:7 HCSB. God doesn't want us to give anything that isn't given in love for Him.  If we truly love Him and are living a life of thanksgiving for all He provides, our hearts will desire to give what He is asking for.  He only asks for a portion. 

So whether we are talking about time , money, whatever-remember that we would have NONE of it if God had not chosen to give it to us. God gave us everything.  Take time to be grateful and return to Him a portion.