Resistance to the Lord through Selfishness

3:6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises,12 you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. 3:7 From the days of your ancestors you have ignored13 my commandments14 and have not kept them! Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord who rules over all. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’ 3:8 Can a person rob15 God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and contributions!16 3:9 You are bound for judgment17 because you are robbing me—this whole nation is guilty.18

3:10 “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse19 so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord who rules over all, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all. 3:11 Then I will stop the plague20 from ruining your crops,21 and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the Lord who rules over all. 3:12 “All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in22 a delightful land,” says the Lord who rules over all.