Give the First of Your Produce - Proverbs 3:9-10

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NASB)

We’ve spent the last few weeks looking at the condition of our hearts while giving, that God loves cheerful giving. We must pray about what God wants us to give and commit to obey Him.

Now we will look at why

9
Honor the Lord from your wealth,
And from the first of all your produce;
10
Then your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Here God says that we are to give from the “first of our all our produce”. That means we are supposed to work out what we’ll give first, at the top of our budgets, not budget for everything else and then give from what’s left. Under the Law, people had to tithe, which means one tenth. Whatever they produced, they were first to give 1/10 of it to God, which meant to support the church. Then they were to live off the remaining 9/10. We are not under the Law, so this isn’t a mandate for us, but it is still a Biblical model to follow.

This takes faith and prioritizing. God says that our barns will be filled with plenty. We have to be careful not to read the prosperity gospel into this. But we do need to trust God that He will provide enough for us.

Heavenly Father, as we present our offerings today, we remember your words in Proverbs 3:9-10. We thank you for the blessings you have bestowed upon us, and we humbly offer back to you a portion of what you have so generously given, recognizing that everything we have comes from your hand. Strengthen our faith and please bless us by showing us your abundant Grace and provision. May these gifts be used to further your kingdom and bring glory to your name. We pray in Jesus’s name, amen.