Generosity and Stewardship — Malachi 3:10-11

Welcome to that season! The scripture above tells us that there's a window in heaven that leads to the outpouring of "a blessing" whenever opened. This statement shows that most of the time, this window stays closed and that whenever it opens, it doesn't open for everyone but for some people, this is supported by the statement, "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing".

So, the question is, "why would God shut the windows which whenever open determines God's blessings on people?". Firstly, let's look at the previous verse to understand what a heavenly closed window leads to: Malachi 3:9 (9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. When the window of heaven is closed, a divine curse persists.

What does the divine curse cause? To understand what the divine curse causes, let's look at the results of the blessing which is poured out after the open heaven: Malachi 3:11 (11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. The verse above clearly shows that what the divine curse attacks is your physical labour or work.

When did this happen? Genesis 3:17-19 (17) And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; (19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. This curse was released after the fall of man and from what we've put together so far, God closed the windows of heaven immediately after cursing Adam in the garden of Eden.

However, the bible says something below: Galatians 3:13-14 (13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, what about curses made outside the law, like the physical curse on Adam's labour? Romans 2:12 (12) For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; Consequences that were generated outside the law are dealt with by rules outside the law.

Since Christ redeemed us from curses of the law that targetted our spiritual relationships with God, curses outside the law that targetted our physical expectations could not be dealt with. This is why nothing changes financially for you just because you're born again. This is why you don't automatically get married because you're born again.

This is why all changes that happen at salvation are purely spiritual. The tithe is an example of a physical covenant a man/woman can have with God. Tithes were first practiced before the coming of the law as seen below: Genesis 14:18-20 (18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (19) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.

And he gave him tithes of all. Several physical covenants that involved vows that were payable to God in the form of physically valuable things were practiced even before the law. Another example is seen below: Genesis 28:20-22 (20) And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, (21) So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (22) And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

When you maintain a physical covenant with God through vows, you become qualified to experience an open heaven. If this doesn't happen, then you must rightfully lay claim to it. This means that as a believer, you must completely lay claim to the physical divine benefits that should originate from your being a believer.

This will surely be yours in Jesus' mighty name!