warm-up

What was the most special gift you’ve given a loved one? How did the person respond to your gift?

Have you ever been to a factory? What was being made there? What was there an abundance of?

Have you received a reward? What was it for, and what made it special?

word

⁹Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; ¹⁰then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9,10

At first glance, this passage may appear like a get-rich-quick formula. “If you do this, you will be prosperous.” But this passage is about what we give to God, not just what He will give us in return. We are to honor Him from the heart because He is worthy of that honor. The original word used for “honor” here is an action word that means “to make something weighty or heavy.” Therefore, when we honor God with our wealth, we are acknowledging who He is and giving Him the proper weight or respect due Him. Today, we will look at three truths about honoring God with our finances.

1
We give to honor God.

Honor the Lord with your wealth . . . Proverbs 3:9

God is worthy of honor because He is who He says He is—the Creator of everything, our Father and Provider. Honoring Him with our wealth means trusting Him, not our income or savings. It means declaring in our hearts that He is more important than anything we’ve acquired in life. It also means that the way we use our finances will not be dictated by our needs or wants, but by our desire to honor Him. How did you learn to honor God with your wealth?

2
We give our first and best to God.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce . . . Proverbs 3:9

We honor God by giving Him the firstfruits of everything we have. As God’s people, giving the firstfruits to God did not only mean honoring Him with the best of their crops. It also meant trusting Him that what was left from the previous harvest would still be more than enough to see them through to the next one. Today, when we give God our tithe, we set aside what we will give to Him even before we budget for anything else. This is our way of honoring God with our firstfruits, recognizing that everything we have comes from Him, and trusting that He will provide for everything we need. How have you experienced God’s faithful provision in your life?

3
When we give, God blesses us.

. . . then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:10

God is not only a faithful provider; He is also a faithful rewarder. When we give, He promises to bless us: filled barns, overflowing vats. This verse is one of God’s many promises to us. If we honor Him with our wealth, He promises to bless us. This is not something we asked for or deserve. God gives His abundant provision because He is faithful and generous. No matter what we give Him, we can never outgive God. How has God shown Himself to you as a faithful rewarder?

application

Ask God to show you how you can honor Him through your giving. How can you meditate on the faithfulness and generosity of God this week?

Meditate on Proverbs 3:5. Ask God to show you how this passage applies to your financial situation. Write down what the Holy Spirit will reveal to you.

Do you know someone who is having a hard time trusting God, especially in the area of finances? Ask God for wisdom and the words to say to challenge the person to trust Him.

prayer

Thank God for His faithful provision. Commit to trust Him in both plenty and lack.

Pray that God will always be more important to you than any of your wants or needs.

Pray for the grace to give generously and sacrificially.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
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