A young man had been walking along a desert trail for several days when he came upon the oasis. There were no luscious trees or visible reservoirs of water…only a rusted hand pump near an old shed. Others had told that his only chance for survival was to stop at the oasis and replenish his water supply. He approached the pump with a slow walk, parched from the late afternoon sun. He saw a large cup of water with a sign nearby that read: “Please use this cup of water to prime the pump. You will be able to pump as much water as you need from the well. Then, kindly leave one cup of water for the next traveler that comes along.” Like most of the wearied travelers, the man was tempted to drink the water in the cup to quench his thirst. Instead, he poured the only water available to him in faith to prime the pump. Soon, after several pumps of the handle, cool water began gushing from the underground well.
God asks us to test Him with the same principle in our lives. He promises us in the Book of Malachi that when we offer Him our tithe of time, talent, and resources, the floodgates of heaven will open with more blessings than we have room to store. It takes faith to give to God from what we have today. Remember, God has promised to return His blessing many fold to those who are faithful.