Proverbs 3:9–10: Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Insight
A worldly person finds this a hard precept. But for God’s servant it is a privilege to put to one side part of his wealth and label it, “This is for God.” Should we who have been redeemed from sin, Satan, death, and hell deny this claim? As Bishop Hall has said, “Well may we think our wealth is our due, when we really owe our very selves to God.” We must honor the Lord, not ourselves. We should do this in a spirit of renouncing self. Have no doubt that the Lord will add his own seal of approval to this: “Those who honor me I will honor.” 1
Application
Our sinful nature is on display at a very young age. Little children, with great determination, hold on to a small item and say, MINE! That attitude grows worse the older we get. Our grip is still around a lot of stuff. We hold tightly to titles, and positions, and possessions, and importance. We become prideful over our success and try to control and determine our future. We forget that our next breathe is on loan from God. Are you a giver or a taker? Does your stewardship include honoring God with the first fruits of everything you have received from Him?
Motivation
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:3–4
Do you possess your possessions, or do your possessions possess you? – TWEET IT
Prayer
Father, teach me to honor You with everything You have given me.
1. Bridges, C. (2001). Proverbs. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
