22-Apr-2024 – Honouring God with your substance is not a business
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. -Proverbs 3:9-10
This is another wonderful work of God for us. I would say this is a principle if we understand correctly. In this verse, Solomon with God given knowledge, tell us when shall we be prosperous.
First of all, being prosperous is not an evil aspiration but God given assignment. What is the meaning of prosperous? being successful in whatever we do. If you look Joseph’s life,
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. -Genesis 39:2-3
Joseph was still a slave but prosperous. So we can understand that being prosperous is not just about money but being successful in whatever the assignment may be according to the will of God.
Now to be prosperous, we need to honour with our substance. That means whatever we have, whatever we posses use it to honour the LORD. If we take Joseph’s life only, Joseph was sold as a slave so, he did not have anything material as possession. But he has a commitment and a place for the LORD and he struggled and went through unexpected negative situations for the sake of keeping himself holy in the sight of God. This is what honouring God with substance.
Now regarding the firstfruits of thine increase, as and when God adds more to whatever you have, give to the Lord accordingly. This is a very debated part of our relationship with God. We are okay to do fast, pray, worship and any kind of service to support the work of God in the church. But once it comes to financial support, we will have questions and hindrances.
My dad use to tell about his friend and his sons who went abroad from India. The father struggled hard, and earned the money required to provide them good education, and they both became software engineers by God’s grace, and they did well and got opportunities to go abroad to earn better.
Out of their respect towards their father, he both built a good house for him and started sending money as and when they can. The father on the other side, bought fields and lands for both of them. At the end of the day, Father is happy for the progress of the children and children were happy and respectful and honouring the father’s sacrifices.
In this relationship, money was involved but out of love or honour. The money was increased but the increase of the money was not the motive of either father or the children. This is an ideal scenario how we should look at the relationship with our heavenly Father.
It is only because of God, we are getting even an opportunity to earn anything. When we honour God by giving to the church, we are supporting the work of the Father in heaven. That money or resources will be helpful to publish the love of God through Jesus which is a very important thing in our life. Because of that, Father in heaven will be pleased and meet our needs in return with the best of the things.
As I told in the previous example, as a believer our motive is not for the blessings we will receive but thankfulness for the grace of God, and God will not give based on how much we gave like a business, but by our heart of giving and honour us back.
Remember 2 mites are more valuable than thousands of shekels. That’s why this is a wonderful work of God in keeping this “giving” part open for us to test our love and reverance towards God. Will you now reconsider “giving” aspect of our faith? Don’t look at the church, ask God and support the work of God as He leads.
Prayer
Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace and the word you have given today about the importance of giving. Most of the times, we have a habit of checking whether our money is getting used in a proper way or not. But we are forgetting that it is your money in the first place, and you will take care of it. Help me to stop worrying and help me to give as you add more increase to my possession. I pray in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
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