Put Me to the Test, Says the Lord of Hosts.

"But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:8-10)

I would like to once again boast in our Lord. God makes many promises to us and commands us to trust him with our lives, with our every decisions and with our money. After all, He is the one who provides our life, our free will and our worldly resources. Malachi chapter 3 verse 8 through 10 is a profound statement from our Lord to, "Put me to the test." We are not often told by our Lord to test Him.

I did not obey this command until about two years ago when we moved out of our house and into an RV. This was a decision made on the premise that it would allow us to always be ready to serve God. We rid ourselves from the attachment to our home, which was nothing more than an attachment to the world and it's ways and security. We then attached ourselves to God's word, His ways and security.

Even as missionaries we tithe 10% of our income and contribute well beyond that to other followers of Christ and their mission to spread the Gospel and glorify God. When we had no gas in our RV, no money in our pocket and planned to travel to Pennsylvania from Alabama, we gave to the Lord first and trusted His promise. When we had no gas in our RV and no money in our pocket and planned to travel 2,500 miles across the country, we gave to the Lord first and trusted His words. Knowing that we would be left with nothing but loose change to cover expenses we still gave to the Lord first and trusted His never failing promises. We have at times awoke with plans for the day and no money to do them, yet after prayer and faith that God will take care of His faithful servants a deposit would clear in our account and provide exactly what we needed to continue on.

I am not attempting to build myself up for how obedient I am but am attempting to build up the Lord for how faithful He is. His promises are true and His commands are not burdensome. Give to the Lord and trust in Him before you give to your self or your family.

So I say to you, put the Lord to the test and see that His promises are true.