The Lord loves cheerful (hilarious) giving (2 Cor. 9 :7 ). Giving clearly in dicates whether a person really has the spirit o f Him who gave all for us (2 Cor. 8 :9 ). Among the Jews the faithful ones gave not only tithes but offerings as well. Experience teaches that tithing is a good basis for giving today. The ob jection that tithing is legal is not valid for tithing was in practice before Moses was born. Abraham and Jacob paid tithes in their days (Gen. 14:20; 28:22). The tithe encourages systematic giving. In addition to the tithe, the “ hilarious” giver will find real joy in making offer ings unto the Lord. God challenges His people to support His work in His way to see if they will not be blessed. True Godliness Includes Heeding the Prophetic Message 4:5, 6 Doubtless this is a reference to the time of the end when God will speak to His faithful remnant (Rev. ll:3 ff.) and they will hear and heed. God’s children should always heed the divine Word. Helps for the Children Malachi Asks for Our Best for God Mai. 1:1, 2a, 6-8 ; 3:7-12 Memory Verse: “ Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacri fices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing” (Psa. 107:21,22). Malachi, the last book of the minor prophets, brought to the sinning Jews God’s plea for their best in offerings and service. God reminded His people that they were not treating Him with the same respect and love that they showed their parents or their masters. He was their Father and their Master but they were not honoring Him or fearing Him. The priests were offering polluted bread upon His altar and sacrificing animals that were blind and lame and sick rather than bringing to Him perfect sacrifices as He had commanded. Their governor would not accept such offerings, much less would their God accept them. In their tithes and their offerings they had robbed God for many years. Because of this sin God had cursed their entire na tion. He promised that if they would bring their tithes into His house He would pour out unto them such a bless ing that there would not be room to re ceive it. Their crops would then be blessed, all nations would call them blessed, and they would be a delightsome land. Today God’s children often bring to Him in offerings and service less than their very best. When they merely pre tend to be giving their best, they are really lying and cheating. The amount of the gift of money or time or talent is not the thing which is most important in God’s sight; He looks at the love that is within the giver’s heart and counts only that as important. A little boy who brought six bricks in his wagon to give to the minister for their new church was giving just as much to his Lord as was the most wealthy person in the church, MA Y , 1 9 5 0
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