October 1st

Honor the LORD

Proverbs 3:9-10
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.

Giving and Receiving

The Scriptural principle of giving and receiving is difficult to dispute, though some may try. Numerous Scriptures support the notion that giving produces blessing in our lives. The Bible teaches us that the liberal soul, or, that is, the generous soul shall be made fat. It also tells us that there is one who scatters, and yet increases, and there is one who withholds more than is necessary, but it tends toward poverty.

This passage in Proverbs 3:9-10 tells us to honor the LORD with our substance, our material possessions, and, yes, even our money. How do we honor Him with that? We give some of what we have toward the work of the LORD, toward the Church, and toward the advancing of His kingdom in the earth.

The Earth is the LORD’S

But doesn’t the LORD own all the silver and gold, and the cattle of a thousand hills? Doesn’t the Bible tell us that the earth is the LORD’s, and all the fullness thereof? Certainly, it does. Yet He entrusts the ownership of substance and wealth to men, men who can be used of Him to promote His purposes in the earth with their substance.

One minister said it this way. Would you rather be the manager of your own money, or the manager of God’s money? This principle of giving and receiving is the way we become managers of His money, conduits or channels of His resources.

Well then, why doesn’t God give me more substance, so that I can honor Him with it? It’s mainly because the kingdom of God works by faith. And faith requires action on our part, before God does His part. We go first, and then God honors His promise.

Give of What You Have

But I don’t have much. Well, start where you are. The LORD doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have. But all of us do have something. Start with a portion of the little you have. And the Bible teaches that is we are faithful with the little we have, then He will make us to be faithful over much.

Proverbs 3:9-10 tells us that if we will honor Him with the substance we have, then He will cause our barns to be filled, and our wine presses to overflow with new wine, both of which speak metaphorically of an overflow of abundant provision in our lives.

Blessed to be a Blessing

Make the decision today to become a giver, a blessing to the purposes of God. Sow into His kingdom with a portion of what you have, and watch it increase as the blessing of the LORD is activated in your life, and His promise becomes a fulfilled reality.