Luke 6:38

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Malachi 3:10

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”

Yesterday, we learned the principle that generosity bridles discontentment. The truth is there is a battle for our heart, and God knows that if we don’t learn to generously give of our money, our possessions, our time, and our talents, our hearts will become cold, stagnant, and discontent. For this reason, among others, He calls on His people to give.

Over and over, the Bible reaffirms the concept of tithing – giving 10% of your income back to God. This obviously makes many people squirm, but it is a valuable exercise in trusting God. When you rearrange your life around God, every sacrifice reminds you that God is first in your life – that you serve Him alone – not your money.

The best way to do this is to pay God first. Don’t give Him the crumbs left over at the end of the month, but instead give Him your first fruits. Choose a percentage to give every month – (10% is the Biblical standard, but it is NOT a requirement) – then pay Him first. This may seem scary, but this is God’s way. He challenges us to test Him on this one, and He will absolutely honor it. 

You know why? Because when you live like this, you are putting God first, and you are putting OTHERS before yourself–God does that! That means you align yourself with God’s values and as you do, you break the power of greed in your life and you bridle discontentment. In this way, your life and your heart both become blessable.

Paraphrase what Jesus said in Luke 6:38. How is it similar to what God said in Malachi 3:10?

Make an action plan for giving. What percent do you want to give each month? Ask God to give you the courage to follow through and put Him first.