Did you know that God wants you to put Him to the test? It’s true. He says so in the book of Malachi. God’s people had become lukewarm. They weren’t committing ‘big’ sins like idol worship or child sacrifices. But neither were they giving to God what belonged to Him. God told them that were under a curse because of their ambivalence toward Him.
“You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me. 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 you will not have room enough for it.”
(Malachi 3:9-10).
“Now wait just a second,” you might be saying. “Jesus clearly said in Matt 4:7 “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
You’re absolutely right. Do not test God with selfish, frivolous, one-sided demands. “God, if you are real, give me a brand-new Ferrari.” “God, if you’ll help me pass this test, I’ll go to church every day.” “If God is ‘All-powerful’ and ‘All-good’ then He could make my life easy; but I’m having a bad day so I guess that proves God is fake.’
The testing that God approves of is testing His Word. Live by His commands and see if He keeps His promises. Live a life of forgiveness and see if He doesn’t give you peace in your heart. Live a life of service to others and see if He doesn’t give you joy. Live a life of humility and see if He doesn’t lift you up.
God wants our hearts. And when we hold back, we are robbing Him. Bring your whole heart to God and see if He will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.