这段经文是玛拉基书中一般人比较熟识的经文，它似乎提供了一条得到神的祝福的方程式，你奉献给神，祂便会把更多赐给你。然而，那些只关心物质上的福气的人，将会大失所望。
神其实在说，如果祂的儿女与祂有好的关系，祂便会大大祝福他们；根据我个人的经历，神给我的祝福不是财富或健康，但当我与神有亲密的关系时，我看到两件事情。
第一，我比较容易察觉到神应许的各种祝福。我留意到我的工作较少差错并有较高的效率；这是物质上的福气。第二，我对人生的期望比较合理，结果是虽然拥有不多但却更满足。我们感到满足，往往是因为我们知道，在世界上很多人看来，我是富有的；这是灵性上的福气。
我们得到物质上和灵性上的福气，都是因为我们首先靠近神。神对似乎迫使祂祝福我们的宗教方程式不感兴趣，祂要求的，乃是我们与祂建立关系，让祂成为我们慈爱和丰盛的父亲。你与神的关系是这样的吗？
父啊，感谢祢把我们与祢的关系放在首位。求祢帮助我们奉献时有正确的动机，并感谢祢赐给我们的一切福气。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。
玛拉基书 3:9-12
9因你们通国的人都夺取我的供物，咒诅就临到你们身上。"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this . . . and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven. . . ." — Malachi 3:10
This is one of the more well-known verses in the book of Malachi. It seems to offer a simple formula to receive God's blessings. Give to God, and he will give back even more. But people who care only about material blessings are going to be disappointed.
What God is really saying is that if his children are in a good relationship with him, he will bless them abundantly. In my personal experience that has not meant riches or perfect health. But I've found that when my relationship with God is close, two things happen.
First, I'm quicker to notice the types of blessings God promises. I notice that my efforts are more productive with fewer things going wrong. This is a real material blessing. Second, my expectations in life become more reasonable, resulting in more contentment with less stuff. Often that contentment comes through the humble realization that in most of the world people would call me blessed with riches. This is a spiritual blessing.
Both the material and the spiritual blessings come through first drawing closer to God. God is not interested in religious formulas that appear to coerce him into blessing us. Instead, God wants a relationship in which he can be our loving, generous Father. Do you have that kind of relationship with God?
Father, thank you for putting our relationship first. Help us to give with the right motives and appreciate you over all the blessings you provide. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
