He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. (Jim Elliot)
Every year my grandfather invested a great deal of money in seed which he planted in his fields. He, as does every farmer, understood the fact that if one puts nothing in the soil than he or she is going to get nothing out of it. You will receive only from that which you are willing to give.
“If you want to be rich, give; if you want to be poor, grasp; if you want abundance, scatter; and if you want to be needy, hoard.” Malachi the prophet pronounced a curse on the Jews for withholding offerings from the Lord. They were willing participants in religious ceremony and studied the Law of Moses, but they somehow managed to overlook his teachings in regards to giving and tithing. The Israelites struggled with obedience and were reprimanded by the Lord, “You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be food in my Temple.”
“Our faithful stewardship brings rich rewards from God. He promises that when we give to Him, He will bless us ...” (Paul Settle). Malachi declared, “Bring all the
tithes—the whole tenth of your income—into the storehouse … and prove Me now by it… if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, so great that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” There is an ancient saying: "Giving is its own reward." That statement is true; for you receive in proportion to that which you give.
We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by giving back to the Lord that which He has so graciously given to us. “You shall truly tithe all the increase…that you may learn to fear, respect and trust the Lord always” (Moses). The next time you are tempted to withhold from God; remember this—you and I go down to our deaths bearing in our hands only that which we have given away (Persian Proverb).
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