From Malachi 3
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
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.
Who is God rebuking? Certainly not Himself.
God never said He would "get His one way or the other"
If your car breaks down or you lose money, it is not because GOD is standing there with a big stick,waiting to hit you over the head so to speak....and TAKE AWAY what is His. How would that do the Church any good.
If your car breaks down or you have to go spend a fortune on medical bills or your house burns down, it ain't cuz God is "paying you back" for robbing Him. Them things are going to happen regardless. It says He will "rebuke" the devourerer, NOT incapacitate him completely.
Here is another passage.
Psalm 50
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
God don't need our money....He owns it all.
It is unscriptural to take LOST people's money.....bake sales, yard sales, etc...even their tithes....hello?
Tithing and supporting the church is for Blood bought regenerated believers only....SAVED people are to support the church.
I've seen church people begging money from people in grocery store parking lots...to support their church. God is so poor He needs to solicit money from unbeleivers on their way to Hell? Bet that makes them want to get saved.
Let me run a rabbit for a minute: I am a business owner and have had many preachers come into my store wanting me to "donate" my products....They have NEVER once asked "If you died today, where would you spend eternity?" No sir, don't matter if you lost or saved to them seems like. Just gimme gimme. Makes you want to ask "Is your God broke" If I gave to every false doctrine preacher who asked me that, I'd go broke. But my God ain't broke, He pays His own way. My God ain't beholding to nobody.
God don't want your money or need it. He wants your heart. He wants YOU..
The Bible says ".....God loveth a cheerful giver"
That don't just mean the church either. It includes those in need.
He wants us to give for "our" own good.
He loves it when we give because we WANT to....not because we HAVE to.
Then He will BLESS!