Listen to what the Lord of every saint says about the liberal soul. "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself" (Proverbs 11:25). When you shut up your "bowels of compassion" you close the windows of heaven. One of the first great stories in the Book of Acts as the New Testament began its history was about a liberal "soul" that earned a spot in God's revelation. His name was Barnabas and he was given the Bible name "son of consolation." The Scripture records "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet" (Acts 4:36-37). His blessings spurred such envy that two careless church members tried to duplicate his liberality without giving in the same magnanimous fashion. They ended up lying to the Holy Ghost and died as a testimony to stinginess. I have often witnessed this same littleness among professing believers and watched in sadness their spiritual demise.

The Son of God left us no room to maneuver our way out of the Biblical truth of "tithing and giving." Why under God's marvelous mercy would anyone try to change the Biblical principals of this great truth? But it happens constantly in the very house of God. Listen to the Son of God during His historic "Sermon on the Mount." He declares, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:17-18). I marvel at the way people deny the righteousness of the First Testament but love to quote the thousands of promises in the same. Jesus marked the great truth of First Testament righteousness beyond argument when He spoke of the Pharisees and their devotion to God's laws. He stated, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19-20).

At the beginning of the Christian walk "tithing and giving" is one of those areas where we deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. Always remember how our cross will end if we are faithful. There is no such possibility of a cross-centered life that does not end in glory, both "here" and "over there." The Lord's infallible promise says, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting" (Luke 18:29-30).

The church history is replete with a multitude of saints that were saved in obscurity--poor and almost hopeless--that gave up everything to seek the "pearl of great price." A great company of these magnanimous souls touched the world for Christ, but also grew in statute, most often having far more of the world's wealth than they ever needed or even desired for themselves.

A Godly and blessed person is always embarrassed by their blessings. The more they get the more they give. Mr. Penney, founder of J. C. Penney's gave 90% of his income. Mr. Belk, founder of Belk's department store would not build a new store in a new location until he built a new church. Each new store had to have a counterpart in a new church. America's history is full of these stories.

The Biblical text that undergirds this great truth is found in Malachi. This prophet of God spoke by the Holy Ghost. If you call this a cultural teaching or an outdated Old Testament doctrine you have proven yourself an apostate. Listen to the Spirit speaking, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:8-11).

To disobey such truth is to rob yourself as well as God. To obey with a true heart in sweet surrender is to do exactly what the Spirit said--you open the "windows of heaven" onto your life. If you do it selfishly there will be absolutely no reward. In fact it will turn on your head and your finances will dry up. If you give up all desires for things, riches, pleasures and wealth and seek His kingdom alone, then after He proves your love He will reward you with His blessings. The Psalmist David adds a beautiful addition to Malachi's prophecy. These words of David have guided and inspired my life greatly. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalms 1:1-3).

Your life will begin to explode when you begin to delight-find great joy-in living by the laws, commandments and truth of Holy Scripture. You have been set free from the old selfish self to live a magnanimous life. The most glaring Biblical test of a new life is our use of monies that pass through our hands.