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 there will not be room enough to store it. (NIV)

It's unlikely you trust someone whom you don't feel like you know.  

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With deeper and deeper intimacy, be it in a romantic relationship, a friendship, or even just an awareness of more and more details of someone's life, character, and personality, often comes increased (or decreased!) trust. For example, this is why political candidates truly must be known quantities in today's day and age. We are simply less likely to vote for someone we don't feel like we know much about.  

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And what if, when it comes to generosity, God's call to live open-handed, trusting him with this aspect of our lives, was less about what he could get from us or convince us to trust him with, and far more about just getting to know him better and better.  

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Today's passage says, "'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 there will not be room enough to store it'" (Mal. 3:10). I think I've most often read this verse as a cause and effect dynamic about my resources: If I trust God with what he has given me, he will provide generously for me. And I think this is true; after all, a good father takes care of his kids.

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But when we look at the whole of Malachi's writings, we find the words of our God who is distressed over a broken covenant with his people. It's not just that they've rebelled against him, but it's breaking God's heart that their relationship is broken. The second verse of Malachi 1 says this: "'I have loved you,' says the Lord. 'But you ask, "How have you loved us?"'" (Mal 1:2).

Imagine this exchange with me in a very human context, like a father talking to his teenaged son or daughter: The father cries, I have loved you! But the nearsighted and frustrated kid shoots back, with a cutting edge, How have you loved me?! The child can't see the holistic provision and care because of whatever pain or lack they feel in the moment.  

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And in this particular section of Malachi, in which God is talking about how his children's refusal to trust him with their resources has broken their relationship, you can hear the same plea in his words: I have loved you! Test me in this! Will I not throw open the floodgates of heaven for you, my child?!

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But how do we respond?  

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Have you, though? Have you loved me that well, God?

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Our relationship, this trust... it's broken. And our Father is taking every angle on our hearts to draw us back into trusting him completely. Sure, it's a bit about your resources, but mostly, it's about you, kid.  

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What if your money wasn't just a means to provide, to pay the bills, or even a means to advance the work of God in this world - all good things! What if, through these conversations about money, your Father was first just coaxing you to open your clutched fists to him as a pathway toward mended trust and relationship with his son or daughter? Would you let him lead you there?  

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Today my friend, I pray you take a step toward trusting him more than you did yesterday. Know today that, more than anything, he just wants your whole heart back in perfect, trusting relationship with him.  

Father God, thank you for loving us with an everlasting love that is deeper and wider than we could ever fathom. Please grow in me today the understanding that you don't so much want something from me, but you want something for me. By the power of your Spirit, help me to trust you with this area of my life in a new and deeper way today. I love you! Amen.