Whether or not the tithe is still the minimal measure of those firstfruits, I ask myself, Does God expect His New Covenant children to give less or more? Jesus raised the spiritual bar; He never lowered it (Matthew 5:27—28).

Given our abundance, the burden of proof should always be on keeping, not giving. Why would you not give? We err by beginning with the assumption that we should keep or spend the money God entrusts to us. Giving should be the default choice. Unless there is a compelling reason to spend it or keep it, we should give it.

Tithing isn't the ceiling of giving; it's the floor. It's not the finish line of giving; it's the starting blocks. Tithes can launch us into the mind-set, skills, and habits of grace giving.

God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). This doesn't mean we should give only when we're feeling cheerful. The cheerfulness often comes during and after the act of obedience, not before it. So don't wait until you feel like giving—it could be a long wait! Just give and watch the joy follow.

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion" (2 Corinthians 9:11).

When will we learn that God doesn't give us greater wealth to increase our standard of living, but to increase our standard of giving?

Too often we assume that God has increased our income to increase our standard of living, when his stated purpose is to increase our standard of giving.

Both psychological research and Scripture demonstrate that those who give generously and serve others are happy people.

I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back—but God has a bigger shovel." — R. G. LeTourneau

Once we've been reconciled to God, we can do something more about our happiness by doing what happy people do. Happiness doesn't precede giving and serving; it accompanies and follows it.

Yossarian left money in the old woman's lap—it was odd how many wrongs leaving money seemed to right—and

Focus on giving smiles away and you will always discover that your own smiles will always be in great supply!