Proverbs 3:9

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops ~ Proverbs 3:9

 

Honor the Lord with your portion, either in kind, or by your financial gain. Yesterday, I talked about the tithe, which I firmly believe in offering to God, as I firmly believe God blesses us when we bless Him with our substance. Our giving to God derives from a love offering, and should be our endless obligation. He is ever our provider, our salvation, the giver of good gifts. Our giving should not be from whatever is left over, but from what is first. Did He not give His only Son to take our sin? Did He not send us His Holy Spirit to live within and guide us? We are so blessed by God and by how He takes care of us; can we not give back to Him from our best and firstfruit? It calls for complete surrender. I wonder if that is our sin in giving to God. We do not truly surrender ourselves to Him in trust, so we hold back. It costs us to trust so in God, yet those who do entrust the best to the Best, are granted blessings beyond all measure. If we give to God what we think we can afford, are we trying to deceive God? Or, are we not trusting God to provide for us as His children? I am reminded of the story in Acts, and Ananias and his wife Sapphira who held back from God through deceit (Acts 5:1-11). They lied to God and suffered for it. We do not fall dead because we lie to God, but we do “die” by way of not receiving all God has in mind for us. 2 Corinthians 9:6 reminds us of this principle for “Those who sow sparingly will also reap sparingly, and those who sow bountifully will also reap bountifully.” God deserves our best, our first, our honor!

Pastor Julia

image: Gabriel Jimenez


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