Honoring God

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.

Proverbs 3:9

GIVING OF OUR finances and other assets can be one of the most difficult responsibilities of the Christian life. We work hard. Often we labor in adverse conditions. Why should we give 10 percent or more away when we could use the money for things that help us to survive or that would make our lives more enjoyable?

But think of who gave you your abilities, your talents, your job, even your commitment and desire to do it well.

One man who worked a menial job made only several hundred dollars a week. It wasn’t hard to give 10 percent of that to his church. But then he invented something that sent the level of his wealth into orbit. He began making millions. Suddenly, giving a tenth seemed much more difficult than the thirty or so dollars he had given in his former job.

So he made a proposal to God. “How about if I just go back to giving what I was giving back then?”

God said, “Fine. I’ll take you back to making that amount too.”

Suddenly, the man got it. No, he wanted the increased income, and he would give the Lord his due.

God does not need your money. But you need to give it—to become a player in his Kingdom’s work. His promise is that he will not only reward you handsomely later for your sacrifices but also bless you for it now.