Stewardship is . . . Testing.

From early on in Scripture we are warned that we are not to test the Lord. “Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah” (Deuteronomy 6:16). Even in the New Testament we are warned against testing the Lord, “We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.” (1 Corinthians 10:9). We are to trust the Lord and allow for Him to test us.

There is one place in Scripture, however, where we are allowed, even encouraged to test the Lord. “‘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 floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it’” (Malachi 3:10).

When it comes to stewardship, we are to test the Lord. Give Him your first fruits. Give Him the tithe. Give Him as He has first given to you. Give to Him and see if He does not give even more back to you.

Certainly you have heard testimonials of people who have given out of their poverty to the Lord and how the Lord has blessed them. If you are like me, a skeptic, you probably do not believe these people. God know us. He knows we are skeptics and do not believe. That is why He tells us to test Him in these things. Test the Lord, and see if the testimonials are true.

Remember, the Lord gives to us first. We return to Him only as He has given to us. The more we return, the more He gives back. And remember, you cannot out give God. Try it, test the Lord and see if He does not open the floodgates of heaven. To God be the glory.

36 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs