Bring It Back to God

Malachi 3:6-10 (NIV)

 

In the first sermon of the BRING stewardship series, Malachi 3:6–10 challenges us to see stewardship differently. There is an important difference between giving and bringing. Giving can sound like we are taking something that belongs to us and generously handing some of it over to God. But Scripture says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” The reason is simple: everything already belongs to God. Stewardship begins when we realize we are not owners, we are stewards of what God has placed in our hands.   

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Malachi was speaking to people whose relationship with God had grown cold. Their worship had become careless, their commitment had weakened, and their giving reflected the condition of their hearts. Before God ever addressed their money, He called them back into relationship: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” Stewardship is ultimately not about God wanting our money; it is about God wanting our hearts.  

 

The sermon focuses on three truths. First, bring because everything starts with God. Every good thing we possess our abilities, opportunities, resources, relationships, and salvation has come from Him. Generosity is our response to the generosity God has already shown us. When we understand that everything belongs to Him, bringing something back no longer feels like losing something; it becomes an act of gratitude.   

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Second, bring as an act of obedience and worship. Jesus teaches that where our treasure is, our heart will follow. Bringing our first fruits rather than our leftovers declares that God comes first. This principle reaches beyond money to our time, energy, gifts, abilities, and priorities. What we bring to God reveals the place He occupies in our lives.  

 

Third, bring because bringing requires trust. Malachi 3:10 invites God’s people to trust Him with what they have. This is not a promise that giving will make us wealthy, but an invitation to live with open hands and believe that God will provide what we need so that we can continue doing good. A clenched fist says, “This is mine.” An open hand says, “God, You gave it to me, You can use it, and I trust You.”   

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Ultimately, the question is not simply, “How much should I give?” but “God, what do You want me to bring?” Our resources, abilities, influence, relationships, and entire lives can be placed before Him for His purposes. Stewardship is more than bringing an offering—it is bringing ourselves. We bring because everything starts with God, because bringing is worship, and because bringing demonstrates trust. We are not owners; we are stewards. We are simply bringing back to God what He has already placed in our hands.