DEUT688 In his Divine wisdom, Solomon counsels: "There is the one who thinks he becomes rich, yet has nothing; another thinks he impoverishes himself, yet has abundant wealth" (Proverbs 13:7). The fool who holds onto every penny he has ever made and thinks to so insure his wealth, deludes himself. He is lost in an unreal world of figures, calculations, bank-books. If he gives no charity, what will he accomplish in the world, with or apart from his wealth? What friends can he acquire? What mitzvoth will he take with him? On the other hand, the man who appears to impoverish himself by helping others to establish business, by supporting yeshivoth, by constantly giving for worthy causes--has incalculable riches that are irrevocably his. … Moreover, we know the teaching of the Talmud : Scripture bids us, [aser t'aser], literally, "Tithe shall you tithe." To our Sages this euphonious phrase echoed an invaluable directive from Heaven, implying a firm promise: "Give tithes in order that you may grow rich" [this verse, T.B. Shabbath 119a, Ta'anith 9a]. And the Talmud adds that though generally it is forbidden to put the Holy, Blessed One to the test, in this matter it is permitted: You may check to see if you will not indeed be blessed with much more than the "tithes" (i.e. the charity) you give. For we read in Scripture: "Bring every tithes into the storehouse… And thereby test Me, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour down for you a blessing to overflowing" (Malachi 3;10. T.B. Ta'anith 9a).