Malachi: Lesson 158
Malachi 3
Paying Tithing Opens the Windows of Heaven
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
Since ancient times, Heavenly Father has blessed His children for their willingness to obey His law of tithing. The Lord’s words through the prophet Malachi help us learn how He will bless us because of our obedience to His law. This lesson can help you feel a desire to obey the Lord’s law of tithing.
Study the Scriptures
Elder Valeri V. Cordón of the Seventy shared the following story:
After … a civil war in Central America, my father’s business went bankrupt. He went from about 200 full-time employees to fewer than five sewing operators who worked in [our] garage. … During those difficult times, I heard my parents discussing whether they should pay tithing or buy food for the children. (“The Language of the Gospel,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 56)
As Elder Cordón learned, paying tithing can sometimes be challenging.
As you study the Lord’s law of tithing, the Holy Ghost can help you understand the blessings available to you and strengthen your desire to follow this law.
Although the people in Malachi’s day continued to offer sacrifices to the Lord, they dishonored Him by offering “polluted bread” and blind, lame, and sick animals (see Malachi 1:7–8, 13) as sacrifices that were supposed to symbolize Jesus Christ. The Lord rebuked the priests, who had “departed out of the [Lord’s] way” and “caused many to stumble” (Malachi 2:8) because of their bad examples. In Malachi 3, the Lord taught one way we can make a willing sacrifice to Him.
Read Malachi 3:7–12. Mark what the Lord asked the people to do in one color. In another color, mark the promises He offered the people if they obeyed.
Malachi 3:8–10 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider tagging doctrinal mastery passages with the topic they teach so you can find them easily later. Memorize the reference and key scripture phrase “The blessings of paying tithing.” You might imagine three eight-year-olds named Malachi giving a tenth of their money to receive the blessings.
Elder Cordón explained how his father proved the Lord’s promises true.
On Sunday, I followed my father to see what he was going to do. After our Church meetings, I saw him take an envelope and put his tithing in it. That was only part of the lesson. The question that remained for me was what we were going to eat.
Early Monday morning, some people knocked on our door. When I opened it, they asked for my father. I called for him, and when he arrived, the visitors told him about an urgent sewing order they needed as quickly as possible. They told him that the order was so urgent that they would pay for it in advance. That day I learned the principles of paying tithing and the blessings that follow. (“The Language of the Gospel,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 56)
Review the following study options. Complete one or more.
Option A
How can I build my faith to pay tithing?
In Malachi 3:10, the Lord invited the people to “prove” His promises about tithing by making an offering. If you struggle with having the faith to pay tithing, take the Lord’s invitation.
President Nelson taught:
Paying tithing requires faith, and it also builds faith in God and His Beloved Son. (“Think Celestial!,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 119)
Watch two or more of the following videos, looking for how others have proved the Lord’s promises about tithing.
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Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, “Do You Want to Be Happy?,” from time code 1:52 to 3:12.
10:21 -
Elder David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” from time code 0:39 to 2:21.
16:55 -
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency, “Tithing,” from time code 3:51 to 4:44.
17:24
Faith-building stories about paying tithing aren’t just for General Authorities. If you know someone who pays tithing, consider asking them to share why they do it.
Based on what you’ve learned, record what you would say to someone who asks, “Why would anyone ever give up 10 percent of their money for tithing?”
Option B
Why don’t I always experience financial success when I pay tithing?
Being a full-tithe payer doesn’t guarantee freedom from financial challenges. Sometimes it can be difficult to recognize the spiritual blessings of paying tithing.
Read Malachi 3:13–15. Mark phrases that show how people questioned whether tithes and offerings were worth the sacrifice.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Often as we teach and testify about the law of tithing, we emphasize the immediate, dramatic, and readily recognizable temporal blessings that we receive. And surely such blessings do occur. Yet some of the diverse blessings we obtain as we are obedient to this commandment are significant but subtle. Such blessings can be discerned only if we are both spiritually attentive and observant (see 1 Corinthians 2:14). (“The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 17–18)
Elder Bednar then shared some of the “significant but subtle” blessings of tithing. Consider studying his talk “The Windows of Heaven” to see examples.
While the blessings of tithing can be subtle, Elder Bednar promised we can recognize them if we are “spiritually attentive and observant.”
Read Malachi 3:16–18. Mark phrases that show how the Lord recognizes our sacrifices and will bless us.
Summarize what you learned about the Lord’s promises in a note next to verse 18.
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you feel a desire to obey the Lord’s law of tithing.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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Your response to someone who doesn’t understand the blessings of paying tithing.
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The note you wrote next to verse 18.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?