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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
have stolen My reserve fund. “Ye are cursed with a curse.”
Malachi
3:9
.
Another Opportunity
The Lord is long-suffering and gracious, and to those who have
done this wickedness He gives another opportunity. “Return unto Me,”
He says, “and I will return unto you.” But they say: “Wherein shall
we return?”
Verse 7
. Their means have been made to flow in channels
of self-service and self-glorification as if their goods were their own
and not lent treasures. Their perverted consciences have become so
hard and unimpressible that they do not see the great wickedness they
have done in so hedging up the way that the cause of truth could not
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advance.
Man, finite man, though using for himself the talents which God
has reserved to publish salvation, to send the glad news of a Saviour’s
love to perishing souls, though hedging up the way by his selfishness,
inquires: “Wherein have we robbed Thee?” God answers: “In tithes
and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even
this whole nation.”
Verses 8, 9
. The whole world is engaged in robbing
God. With the money He has lent them, men indulge in dissipation,
in amusements, revelings, feasting, and disgraceful indulgences. But
God says: “I will come near to you to judgment.”
Verse 5
. The whole
world will have an account to settle in that great day when everyone
shall receive sentence according to his deeds.
The Blessing
God pledges Himself to bless those who obey His commandments.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in
Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 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. And all nations shall call you blessed:
for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Verses
10-12
.