Proverbs 3:9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
This passage of scripture contains one of the most potent promises pertaining to the material things of earth, which many people have not taken the time to examine thoroughly, and as a result, major blessings are left on the back burner, while millions suffer unnecessarily from poverty and want. The first fruits here referred to include the tithe, or one tenth of one's increase, and it also includes free will offerings that are given to God as an acknowledgement of His beneficence in providing bountifully for our daily needs.
Very specific instructions were given regarding the return of one's tithe to the Lord's treasury, and these instructions need to be carefully studied by all people in our day, so that they can be implemented. Back then in the days of old, wealth was not only measured in silver and gold, but also in cattle and herds, hence the reason why every tenth animal that was born was holy unto the Lord, and was not to be interfered with, even though it might be sickly. Also, of the products of the earth, one tenth was to be returned as tithe before the rest could be used, so that if a man cultivated mango trees, ten percent of the fruits or the value thereof was to be returned to the treasury. Let's read:
Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
The freewill offering however was left up to a persons discretion, and was to be based on the prosperity that God had granted. This second provision left some wiggle room for a person to honor God according to the dictates of conscience, being based on their appreciation of what God did and continued to do for them. However, it was found that because no specific sum was stipulated as in the case of the tithe, that many then used that loop hole to give a very parsimonious offering, and as a result the cause of God suffered and they also suffered too, because what one receives from God is directly proportionate to what one gives, a principle that needs to be clearly understood by everyone. Let's read:
2nd Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
In our day, the habit of extracting money for personal use before our tithes and offerings are returned to the Lord's treasury, is productive of great evil and unnecessary hardship, for when this is done, a withering curse rests upon all that one has. When God is honored first in our gifts, He then blesses the remaining portion heavily, so that it multiplies sufficiently to supply all of our needs, and then some. During the great recession of recent years, it was discovered that many Christians lost their homes, and the reason in many cases was traced back to the fact that in those difficult days, many of them were tempted to withhold more than is meet, in order to pay their mortgage note, but instead of saving their homes they ended up losing everything.
As Christians, our faith is tested mostly in emergencies, and faith that is not tested cannot be trusted. Before any bridge is opened for public use, it is subjected to a series of rugged tests to see whether it would withstand the forces of everyday pressures, and if it is found worthy, then it is used on a continual basis. On a much larger scale are the tests which come our way from time to time, regarding our giving. If we are only generous in times of abundance, then our benevolence and faith in God will not stand up to the rugged tests of giving freely during times of poverty, and so we would become the sport of circumstances.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to give as God gives, with a heart full of joy and eagerness, for if by the grace of god we were to develop this important characteristic as a tender plant, the God of heaven will respond in the positive, by loading us up with as much as we can handle. Let's read:
Luke 6:38 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 it shall be measured to you again.
May all the promises of God be fulfilled in our lives, for He desires only the best and the most for those who put their trust in Him. "Good night" and God bless!