PASTOR’S CORNER, Rusty Husted, First United Methodist Church, Liberal

Should we question God? Should we test God? These two questions tend to be taboo when we reference our relationship with God. Sometimes we are taught that if you question or test God that your faith is weak. We usually point to the story of Job to correct our thinking on these two matters.

We also can point to Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4 where Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6 when He says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” However, this is in reference to when Israel complained that God did not care for them in Exodus 17. So, it was a test of God’s character, which is what satan was tempting Jesus with. In my opinion not the same issue when it comes to testing or questioning God. Does God ever condemn us if we question or test God? Moses questions God in Exodus 31 about destroying the Israelites when they created a golden calf. Let us not forget how Gideon tested God in Judges 6. So, there are instances when God is both questioned and tested. However, this may not be the best route to take in our relationship with God, but if it is taken, we do not stand condemned as a lack of faith. In fact, in one instance God tells us to test Him; Malachi 3. It is from this chapter that I will talk about the importance of tithing and offerings.

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, “How shall we return?” Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.  I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

I hope you can see from this text the magnitude and seriousness of giving our tithes and offerings. God says that when you do not do this you are essentially “robbing” God. How? For starters we should never forget that everything belongs to the Lord. Yes, you have earned it through hard work and education, but who gave you the strength and mind? Who created the opportunities? Who created the will and devotion to your craft? We can never forget that YOU are GOD’S creation. We fail and fall into sin when we exclude God from any part of our life, especially our pocketbook. For this reason, Jesus will teach us in Matthew 5, “Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.” So, when we do not give, when we fail to help, when we are greedy, we are robbing God. We fail to keep His covenant and His promises to provide for all His creation.

Also notice that God makes a distinction between “tithes” and “offerings.” Sometimes we forget that we are to give both tithes and offerings. Anyway, back to my main question; can we test God? The answer is “YES.” No, we should not test God in every little thing, but God commissioned us to test Him in the area of money. When we withhold our tithes and offerings or even limit/designate them we are essentially not putting our full trust in God. In this passage God makes it clear; if you freely give, God will “open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” This is not some twisted “prosperity gospel” that some churches and pastors have taught. This is about letting go of the spiritual sin of control and having our eyes, hearts, and minds open to the many blessings God gives in our daily lives. It is about living out the promise that, “Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.” (James 1) God is pleading with us to let go of control and let God lead the way. Give to God what is His and share the blessings He gives with all people, no matter who they are or what they have done. We quench the Spirit and our relationship with the Spirit when money becomes the stumbling block in our lives.

Maybe it is time to test the Lord this month. Give your tithes and offerings freely and see what God will do in your life. If you don’t tithe, try it. If you do tithe don’t just stop with 10 percent (maybe you need to actually give 10 percent). Be the widow who gave everything. Trust in the Lord with your financial situation and see how He takes care of you and your family.