Give to Get

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."  Malachi 3:10 NIV

"For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills."  Psalm 50:10

Continually I am amazed at the blessings which flow from spiritual faithfulness and obedience.  Often I hear people say, "You gotta give it away in order to keep it."  This never made sense to me, especially as a selfish person of the human race.  As I struggle to make enough money to cover my financial obligations, while cutting expenditures and frivolous spending, one issue I've never compromised on is giving God the first-fruits (10%) of the income He provides me.  While I could apply that specified amount toward savings or debt retirement, the negative long-term implications far outweigh any positive short-term gain I may achieve.  This whole idea was brought home and reinforced this week.  Two letters from friends arrived in the mail, each carrying checks with a sum total of $500.  Wow!  This was a 1000% return investment of the tithe I gave on Sunday.  I can not out-give God!  Truly I am blessed beyond measure with my spiritual cup overflowing.

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