Open the Windows of Heaven

July 5

The secret to financial blessing may lie in the words of the Old Testament prophet Malachi. In Chapter three, verse ten of his book we read, “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 windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing you cannot contain.”

God expects His people to be generous. He expects them to contribute to the good work of feeding and clothing the poor, to visiting the widows and prisoners, to sending missionaries to those who haven’t heard the good news. He did not make us to be entities unto ourselves but to function as caring, compassionate beings who reflect the tender heart of Christ in their dealings with people.

Some may feel that it is the responsibility of government to assess and meet the needs of the poor, but that is not the way designated by the Word of God. Governments may assume that responsibility by taxation and allocation of funds obtained from one who has plenty to another who doesn’t have as much, but this is not the Biblical answer to the problem.

Poverty will always exist (see Matthew 26:11) so we are told in advance that it will not be eradicated until Jesus returns, but that does not mean we should accept it! We should do all we can to counter it through our own generosity. It is not the responsibility of the government to do what God wants believers to do as they give their tithe to the church and as they reach out to their brother in need wherever they find him. Open windows of blessings are promised when His people are obedient.