What does Proverbs 3:9 mean?

The Israelites were commanded by the Lord to give the first of their crops to the Lord out of gratitude for his bountiful provisions (Deuteronomy 26:1–3, 9–11). They were also commanded to tithe: to give a tenth of their wealth to the Lord (Numbers 18:21–24). About 400 years after Solomon's death, the Lord accused Israel of robbing Him by not tithing. He ordered: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse" (Malachi 3:10).

It's important to recognize that tithing was mandated for Israel, not for all people everywhere. Although God does not require Christians to tithe, the idea of giving a portion of our income to God's work is a good start to our giving. We ought to give regularly and proportionately (1 Corinthians 16:2), as well as bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6) and of one's cheerful free will (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The Lord deems the heart of the giver of greater value than the gift. When Jesus saw a poor widow deposit two small copper coins into the temple's treasury, He commended her, saying, "She out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:44).