GIVING

Honour 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. Proverbs 3:9-10

In Old Testament times, the believers were required to give the first ten per cent of their income to God with no questions asked. They were to honour God with their money and the first portion of the crops. This act of giving was to show that God was both the source and owner of their resources.

God did not require them to give their principal or their capital. He wanted the first portion of their income – the income that has been produced by investing their skills, time, capital and labour.

The giving of the tithe and the firstfruits was an opportunity for the children of Israel to show gratitude to God for His abundant goodness and provision throughout the year. By giving God the firstfruit of the increase, they acknowledged Him as the source of income and wealth. Today we must also live by the same principle: give out of our income to God. We, too, must honour God by our giving. You cannot go through the year and say with our lips, “Yes, I trust God, I acknowledge Him and I revere Him,” without giving of our best financially to Him.

Make a quality decision today to be a giver. You never outgive God. Honour Him with your firstfruit and your offerings. Be generous to God and He will open the windows of heaven over your life and pour on you so much blessing you will not have enough room to contain them.

Prayer: Lord, give me more grace to be a generous giver.

Scriptural Reading: Proverbs 3:1-10