Eternal Investment

Read Proverbs 3

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10

“Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can.” In many ways this quip is an accurate picture of modern materialism. We in the West seek to accumulate wealth and to use it largely for ourselves. How easy it is to forget that all we have is from God . . . and should be used for him (Colossians 1:16).

By giving the first and best portion of their harvest back to God, the ancient Israelites acknowledged his goodness and their dependence (Deuteronomy 26). Such humble gratitude served as a continual reminder that God is the source of all material blessings. In exchange for this honor, God promised to continue to provide abundantly for the needs of his people.

Of course, both Scripture and experience provide us with exceptions to this “piety guarantees prosperity” rule. Sometimes generous people don’t reap a big financial return. But, as Jesus assured us, there is always great blessing and joy in giving (Acts 20:35).

A WORD FOR TODAY

Giving honors God.

Today, Lord, I want to keep in mind that everything I have is from you. Help me learn to hold my possessions loosely. Make me a godly giver.