The Hovot Halevavot writes, at end of chapter seven of Shaar Bitachon, about the reasons people don't have Bitachon. One of the reasons, he says, is their foolishness in not understanding God's commands.
God commanded us to rely on Him, so how can anyone say, “I'm not deserving,” or “I'm not worthy.”
God said to rely on Him. And what's his source?
It's interesting that he doesn't quote any of the Pesukim in the Torah that the other Rishonim do. He quotes a pasuk in Malachi, where God says, “Test Me in this,” referring to a time in history when the Bet Hamikdash was very low on funds, and God said, “Everyone give your Maasrot/Tithes, and I will reward you.”
And then God said, “Test Me with this, (see) If I don't open up the windows of heaven and bless you. Test Me with this and I will I'll give you blessing so much that your lips will be tired from saying ‘Enough.’”
This is his source for Bitachon.
Normally, this Pasuk is brought down in reference to the one area where you're allowed to test God- the area of Ma’aser. It says, Give Ma’aser and you will become wealthy. Normally, you can't test God. You can't say, “I'm going put on Tefilin and I want to see my success.”. Or, "I'm going keep Shabbat and I want to see my reward.”
You might not necessarily see it in this world. You'll see in the next world. So don't test God. It's one of the 613 Mitzvot. Don't test God.
There’s only one exception- when it comes to the area of Ma’aser. But the Hovot Halevavot takes a slightly different angle here. The Hovot Halevavot is using, “Test Me with this,” as his source for Bitachon, which means that the reason why the man who gives his Ma’aser is being blessed is not because there’s something magical about Ma’aser.
What's magical is the power of Bitachon. Giving away money takes reliance on God. Why am I giving away the money? Because I'm relying on God that God's going to pay me back. Like the Sefer HaHinuch says, it’s like God is, so to say, short on cash. He's not liquid right now, so He's saying, “Please, this poor man needs money. This Yeshiva needs money. Please lay out the money. I'm a little short on cash now. I'll pay you back later.” So you're trusting in God, and because you're trusting in God, you're being paid back.
“Test Me in this,” means, See if Bitachon works or not, I'll come through when you rely on Me.
And that's why Bitachon is one of the exceptions to the norm. Normally, there's a question: Am I going to get paid back in this world or not? When it comes to Ma’aser, you're not getting paid back in this world for your Ma’aser, and you’re not getting paid back for the mitzva, you're getting paid for relying on Hashem.
That's a whole different track. You rely on Hashem because you rely on Hashem- that doesn't take away merits and it has nothing to do with the Next
World. There's no reward in this world for mitzvot. But if you rely on Hashem and He gives it to you, its not a reward for a mitzvah. It’s the way God set up this world. Rely on Me in this world and get in this world.
It's a whole different way of looking at the exception of Ma’aser It's not an exception of giving your tithes; it's the exception of Bitachon. “Test Me,” when it comes to Bitachon and I will reward you in this world. Because when it comes to Bitachon, you're not getting paid for the mitzvah. This is a relationship. God says, “Rely on Me and see what happens.”
This is a very important principle- to appreciate that, like the Hovot Halevavot says, it has nothing to do with being or feeling worthy, and it has nothing to do with reward for Mitzvot. This is a system that God set up in the world, where He told us, “Rely on Me when you have a problem and I'll come through for you. Test Me in this, and I will show you.”
So go ahead test God. But you have to really believe and really rely.
Have a wonderful day.