Ki Savo:
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"You shall take from the very first fruits from the ground..."

This week's Parsha starts off with the commandment of bringing ones firstly ripened fruits to the Temple and giving it to the Kohen.  This ritual is called Bikurim, it is a sign and a dedication of gratitude to Hashem for everything that we are blessed with.  The Parsha ends off with the Tochecha (admonition).  The Ramban relates this Admonition to the period of the Second Temple and its subsequent exile.

I will try my best to connect these two topics together, and hopefully come out with an interesting summary.

Bikurim - First Fruits:
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The bringing of the Bikurim is to remind us that even though we are permitted to enjoy things in this world, yet one must still channel his initial happiness, his initial Simcha of eating his first fruits, to Hashem.
This happiness is so great, for everyone is happy to see the fruits of their work.  This is needed, for our main goal in this world is to come closer to Hashem, and to see in our everyday lives, "the Hand of Hashem".

Rav Eliyahu Meir Bloch writes in his Sefer - Peninei Das Torah, that Chazal explain in Sefer Bereisheis, that when Yakov met Yosef, after many years of thinking he was dead, Yosef fell on his fathers shoulders and wept, while Yakov Avinu didn't, for he was busy reciting Kerias Shema.  
What??  Why now, why couldn't Yakov Avinu say Kerias Shema before?  Now was such an uplifting moment, shouldn't he have hugged his son and cried out of happiness??

This is what we learn from this Pasuk, Yakov Avinu felt that his happiness was so great, he had to take this feeling and use it to recognize his heavenly responsibility, "Ol Malchus Shamayim."

We must take those uplifting moments, and use them to come closer to Hashem.  For this is the only way that one can make those special moments, everlasting.  For ones Mitzvos continue with them to the World to Come.

Tochecha - Admonition:
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Rav Frand discusses a similar issue.

We are also told in the Tochehca (Admonition) of this weeks Parsha, about the consequences for not serving Hashem with happiness, since we have allot.

All these curses are because we don't do the Mitzvos in happiness, and with a full heart.
One may ask, "this is the reason for our curses?"
And even further, we are told by Chazal that this Admonition is the reason why the Second Temple was destroyed, however we also know that the destruction was caused by "Sinas Chinam" - hating another for no reason.  Which Chazal is correct, for it seems like a contradiction?

So both are true, there is no contradiction, for the underline cause of the destruction was due to the lack of Simcha.  Chazal say that "Talmedei Chachamim Marbim Shalom B'Olam".  Torah scholars create peace in the world.  How do they accomplish this?  So Rav Yechezkel Abromtsky says that a true Talmid Chacham is one at peace with himself, this happiness that he has with himself is contagious and he is willing to share it with others.

A miserable person can't stand other people and their successes.

So Chazal are saying that since you didn't serve Hashem out of Simcha, you were not happy with your lot, this brings Sinas Chinam, for the same person wont be able to stand others.