For the next several weeks we invite our readers to read through Proverbs 3:1-35 as our reflections will be focused on the theme, Finding Wisdom Through Trusting and Obeying God.
Listen:
Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10 NASB)
Reflect:
What a sensitive topic giving can be. Why is that so? Possibly because of mishandling on the parts of some, but the Lord and his call for us to be generous to His storehouses has not waivered. He is a generous Father, and He calls on us to partner with Him with joy; with our first and best! He has been generous to me, and I’m certain He has been generous to you!
This Proverb is one of 2,000 verses in scripture where money and stewardship are mentioned in the Bible. While God understands the role money plays practically in our lives, He also makes it clearly known the role He doesn’t want it to play in our hearts.
His way to keep money in its proper place in our hearts is to honor the Lord by returning to Him the tithe from our firstfruits of all that He entrusts to us. This might be a hard concept to accept as a new apprentice of Jesus, but there is a trusted saying in the long-established family of believers that reminds, “God can do more with our obedience and 90% than you can ever do with 100%.”
When we trust God with our lives, we trust that He is the God of everything, including the finances entrusted to us. When we sow back into what He is doing in this world through our local church and scripturally sound global ministries, we are being obedient AND trusting His Word in verse 10. What a privilege that He invites us to partner with Him in the work He is doing to meet people where they are!
Prayer of Response:
Father, Psalm 50:10-12 says that you own the cattle on a thousand hills. You have no need of anything because You own everything. And yet you choose to invite me to partner with You in what You are doing here on earth. Thank You for blessing me with what I am entrusted. Forgive my lack of thankfulness. Help me to have a more thankful outlook on what I already have. Create in me a new heart of joy and gratitude and help me to have the generosity of You, My Father. Thank You for your patience and love as You mold me to be more like Jesus. Thank You for Your blood that covers me, Jesus! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Questions to Ponder:
- Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to reveal: Has money become an idol for me? Do I trust money more than I trust the Lord’s providing hand? If so, confess and receive His forgiveness.
- Am I giving to the Lord joyfully from my wealth and firstfruits? Respond accordingly as the Holy Spirit reveals.
- Heart check: has your offering become one more “bill” to pay? Have you lost the joy of giving to the Lord of your firstfruits from a heart of gratitude and holiness? Confess and receive His forgiveness. Set a time when you will now bring your gifts to the Lord with mindfulness and gratitude.
Breath prayers:
Join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale(Breathe in): I breathe in trust
Exhale(Breathe out): I Breathe out gratitude
Repeat
—Submitted by: Traci Morrow
Traci lives in Colorado with her husband of 35 years, KC. They have 6 adult kids they’re crazy about, 4 favorite kids through marriage, and 6 adored grandkids. She mentors women and men to live a life by design and not default in community through Growth Tables. Traci & KC regularly pour into young couples as marriage mentors. Traci has authored the book, Real-Life Marriage; Navigating Your Beautiful, Messy, One-Of-A-Kind Love Story, an Amazon best seller.