Devotional - Monday, August 16th

Robbing God



Malachi 3:6-12


Are we robbing God? Are we bringing our tithes and offerings to Him? Are we bringing the ‘full’ or ‘whole’ tithe? If not we are robbing God.


Malachi is talking to a people who have abandoned and ignored God. They have not only abandoned God but also His children; the widows, the orphans, the foreigners, and those who work for wages. This lack of giving is a symptom of something much bigger. They have turned their backs on God and gone their own way and this arrogance has caused them to ignore their neighbour.


This is an interesting passage to consider while we are in Kenya (when you’re reading this we’ll be in Kenya). We are among a people who give even though they have few possessions. They share a meal with us, even killing their chicken or goat, while they survive on a protein deficient daily diet. Their chicken or goat is like the widow’s mite that Jesus described in Luke 21:1-4. Jesus said that the widow with her two pennies gave more of what she had than the rich man who gave out of his plenty.


I think that the time, members of the Altadore family have spent among the El Salvadorans and the Kenyans, has influenced us. Observing their lives and their character has rubbed off on us. It has made us a more giving family of believers. We respond to the need we see in the world around us. We love to share our time and gifts with His children where ever they are in the world.


The passage ends with the promise “We will be blessed” if we obey. In ‘The Message’ Eugene Peterson translates this to we will be called the “Happiest Nation”. It’s interesting that we’re here with the Kenyan people who give and share willingly. They are a happy people, smiling in spite of the many challenges they face each day. With these smiling faces the Kenyans must be part of the “Happiest Nation”. Being here among them allows this to rub off on us and we like others before us bring this back to our church family at Altadore.


Prayer:


May we be as generous as our Kenyan hosts.
May we bring the full tithe into God’s store house.
Grant us the willingness to obey, to look after
the widows, the orphans, the foreigners, and the workers.
May we become a “Happiest Nation”.


Amen


Glenn Malcolm