Pastor Mark Putman In Malachi’s day, the people had become bored with God. Their worship had turned from relational to ritual. As a result, they offered blemished sacrifices; the priests had become unfaithful; divorce was commonplace and easy; their words wearied God; businessmen were defrauding their workers, cheating their customers and taking advantage of widows, orphans and aliens. The people were also robbing God by withholding their tithes, by giving the worst instead of the best, and by giving minimally rather than generously. Their attitude was, “How little can I give and still keep God happy?” The tithe is not a legalistic regulation. The primary purpose for the tithe is to put God first in our lives. When we put God first in our giving, He will be first in every area of life.