"HONOR THE LORD WITH THY SUBSTANCE"

Proverbs 3:9

To honor the Lord with your substance is to use that which God has given you in his providence for the glory of his name and the interest of his kingdom in this world. Particularly, it is to give a portion of your substance to God again.

How Much?

The Lord does not tell us how much to give. Under the law a tithe of all was required. But we are not under the law. Therefore, legal precepts have no authority over us.

Certainly, those who know the grace of God in Christ Jesus are not so niggardly as to think they honor God by allotting only a tithe of their income for gifts. God's people are not miserly tithers, but generous, cheerful givers. They give as much of their substance as prudence will allow, in proportion as the Lord has prospered them. And they give in faith for they give of "the firstfruits of all (their) increase." Week by week, believers allot a portion of their income to be given for the honor of God first. Some can give much more than others, because their needs are less and their income more. But all who honor God in their hearts, honor God in their substance.

Needs Supplied

Though we never give for the purpose of gaining more (God's saints are not mercenaries!), none who honor God with their substance will ever be impoverished by doing so. Solomon says, "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine" (v. 10).

Our Master declares, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal shall it be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).

Because the Philipians, from their great poverty, gave so generously to one of God's own, the Apostle Paul assured them that God would supply all their need "according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:14-19). Because they had honored God with their substance, Paul assured them that God would honor them by supplying all that they needed, both to live in this world and to continue honoring God with their substance. Let every believer give generously of his substance, "as God has prospered him," for the honor of the Lord our God.

AMEN.

Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #872

2734 Old Stanford Road - Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net