Proverbs 3:9 tells us, "Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce." Let us see how we can apply this Proverb to our lives.
In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were commanded by the Lord to give a tithe of what they earned. If this was in the form of crops or produce, they were to give a tenth of the first portion of what they brought in. Before they used their money or goods for anything else, they were to give the first portion of their increase to the Lord.
I really don't believe that tithing is commanded in the New Testament. However, we are called to be givers and to honor the Lord with our wealth just as this Proverb teaches us. In many cases, that will involve giving much more than a tenth.
There are some people who have vast amounts of money. They have more money than they could possible spend on themselves in their entire life. People like this need to honor God by using large amounts of their wealth to help others and to make this world a better place. Of course, there are others who could only give a very little because they just have enough to get by in this world.
We are each to purpose in our own hearts what it is that the Lord would have us to give in order to bring honor and glory to Him. The Holy Spirit will deal with each individual believer in the area of giving. When we do give unto the Lord, we should do so with joy and not begrudgingly. The Bible says that the Lord loves a cheerful giver.
Where should we give of our resources so that we can honor God? Churches need funds to carry on their local ministries. Missionaries need funds to carry the Gospel around the world. There are many charitable organizations that help people by providing food and medical care as well as educational opportunities. There are also many organizations that need help protecting the environment and the animals that God has made.
Let us all ask God what He would have us do, and then let us do it joyfully as unto the Lord.
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