Giving Gifts / Making Deals

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”

Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, if He provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to You a tenth of all that You give me.”
(Genesis 28:16-22 HCSB ©®)

Jacob’s tithe offer to Yahweh was in the form of a deal. He listed three “ifs” that Yahweh had to perform. If He did His part, Jacob would let Him be his God, and he would give Him back one tenth of all that Yahweh gave Him.

Jesus taught that we should be generous gift-givers. He taught that would make us gift-receivers, too. Not because we had made a trade, but because we had released a gift.

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 back to you.”
(Luke 6:38 HCSB ©®)