He's Got a Bigger Shovel

He’s Got a Bigger Shovel

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!” (Malachi 3:10 –New Living Translation).


In the early days of America, there was a Philadelphia businessman who was known for his heart for giving in abundance. An admirer asked the businessman, “How is that you can afford to give so much to the work of the Lord?” The businessman replied, “I shovel it out, and God shovels it in. God just has a bigger shovel!”

At the very mention of tithing, offerings, or giving in general the average Christian experiences something akin to flu symptoms and feels as if they must leave and lie down. Of course, I’m kidding…that is unless you feel a fever coming on! Go ahead, laugh. It’s okay.

Malachi was charged with bringing a tough message to the people. He was telling them that they were robbing God (Malachi 3:8-9). Whew! Talk about preaching a hard sermon! It is a serious matter, however. We MUST give to the work of the Lord!

The amazing truth in this passage is God’s promise to bless those who test Him. God promises to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we won’t have room to hold all of it. Will you try Him? Let a warning be issued…these blessing may not be the kind that one can take to the local bank and deposit. God will bless though. He will bless abundantly. Do you know how I know? ‘Cause the Bible tells me so!

We know that we don’t live in an age of tithing. We find the New Testament believer gave well beyond a tenth (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34). Don’t worry; I am not saying we must do that. What I am saying is that we must let God be Lord over all that we have and respond to what He puts on our hearts to give. We must be honest with God. The people Malachi spoke to didn’t even realize that they were not giving appropriately (3:8)! Therefore, we must allow God to search our hearts and speak to us. According to the Apostle Paul, we must do it out of response to God, not obligation. He told the church at Corinth, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 – NKJV).

Will you let Him open the windows of heaven upon you today? Will you trust that His shovel is bigger? Will you let Him prove it to you?