"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fear due Me says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name? You say, How and in what way have we despised Your name? By offering polluted food upon MY ALTAR. And you ask, How have we polluted it and profaned You? By thinking that the table of the Lord is contemptible (low or abased) and may be despised. When you [priests] offer blind [animals] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Present such a thing [a blind or lame or sick animal] now to your governor [in payment of your taxes, and see what will happen]. Will he be pleased with you? Or will he receive you graciously?" -The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
The table of the Lord was the place of God's provision for His people.
But His leaders were bringing polluted (blind, lame and sick) animals to God's table as an offering (sacrifice) and He felt despised (insignificant) in their lives.
Dictionary.com defines that word polluted as: something contaminated, tainted, corrupt, dirty and soiled; something MADE unclean, impure, useless (or inefficient.)
What does your daily sacrifice to the Lord look like?
Is it something "useful" that God can bless?
There can be no success (glory, splendor, beauty or triumph) without sacrifice. RIGHT NOW, economic resources in the world seem limited. But money was still designed to flow to you in a "current" (thus the name "currency") even in a time of famine and uncertainty. Yet nothing swims to you in contaminated waters.
King Solomon wrote: "CAST YOUR bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days."
We determine the flow that comes in and out of our lives. We dishonor God when we bring Him a sacrifice (seed, offering or work) that LACKS VISION, STRENGTH OR HEALTH.
You see, God cannot build or bring any dream to pass in our lives without an extreme sacrifice, because it is inconsistent with the nature, character, potential and expectation He has put inside us.
We must flow in our call, role and His expectation with tremendous military tenacity, discipline and determination. A dishonorable seed flows from a dishonorable work ethic or heart.
Interestingly, God's discrepancy with the offerings of His children was not a matter of usability or affordability. It was a matter of the heart.
God questioned where their heart was because of where their treasure was.
God said, "I dare you to give a blind, lame and sick animal in payment of your taxes-see what will happen." Which brings us to a very interesting analogy: For a moment, imagine that the tithe (10% of what you make--which God commands) represents an expense or obligation in your life that is 10% of your income (For example, if you are making $5000 per month, 10% or $500.00 for a car payment.)
What if you paid your car note (or gave) only at times, or when you felt you could afford it; what if you paid it partially or worse, NEVER? What do you think the Auto Loan Company would do with that type of inconsistency?
As consumers, we go to great lengths to prove to creditors we can afford the loan or line of credit we are applying for. We want them to know every dollar we make to increase our debt to income ratio and approval chances; we want them to know that our "monthly tithe and offering" (bank payment) and income will be consistent, yet we get offended if the church asks for 10% of it.
Oh, how we dishonor and grieve the heart of God.
We wouldn't dare tell the bank, we can't afford the mortgage or car note anymore. In fact, we would do whatever it takes to make up the difference (get a second job, etc.) to sustain what our family needs to survive and what the bank needs to keep the blessing (of transportation or housing) active in our lives.
Yet we say to God, "We cannot afford to tithe or give our best anymore."
And we expect Him to give seed to someone who eats it; YET WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
I have learned that God's giving is in direct response to ours. He said, "If you draw near to me, I will draw near to you. If you give, I will give back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over unto your bosom."
As leaders, we represent God's storehouse, distributer and executive director.
In Mal. 3:10, God said: "Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and PROVE ME NOW BY IT, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts."
God's altar and house was designed to receive our best, because He gave us His best.
God said, "When you supply My embassy or house (the church) with food, divine provision and protection will overflow in your house; WHEN YOU TITHE AND GIVE, people will see the blessing, security, stability and prosperity I pour on your life and CALL YOU BY WHAT THEY SEE."
What do people see on your life right now?
Do they see scarcity, stinginess, lack, poverty and debt OR do they see blessing, liberality, abundance, increase, favor, a future and promotion?
What they see is an indicator of what you have sowed.
Your seed (where your money goes) is the greatest indicator of your heart. It is an indication of what you treasure and put first in your life.
That's why Jesus sat down opposite the treasury to see how the people were casting money into the treasury (See Mark 12:41-44.)
He was auditing their heart to determine how they would be blessed and remembered.
When you are a sower and render what is due to Caesar (creditors) and God, God is obligated to give you seed and the resources (of employment and clients) to sustain it.
Today, if He is the best thing that ever happened to you, why aren't you giving Him your best according to the pattern of seedtime and harvest (including tithing?)
If you will give God your heart, He will increase your treasure.
EVERYTHING in Christ overflows.
He still owns ALL the silver and gold; ALL the cattle on a thousand hills.
There is still no shortage or limits in Him.
To learn more on the law of increase and tithing, register for SPIRITUAL GROWTH on August 9, 16, and 23rd in Tustin, CA.
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