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“Honor the Lord With Your Possessions” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Our focus in giving is often far too narrow. We can merely see our giving as something we do with a bill, a coin, a check, or a card. Yet, we need to view the ways we might bring honor to the Lord far more broadly. The following proverb conveys this idea:
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
Notice the author does not just say “Honor the Lord with your money” but “Honor the Lord with your possessions.” Giving with more than our money, makes the act of giving far more personal. Giving with more than our money, opens the door to a far broader array of ways we might be able to give. Giving with more than our money, is exactly what Jesus Christ Himself gave. Only in one instance did Jesus give someone a coin (Matthew 17:24-27), but who has ever
given to a greater degree than Jesus?
So, what are some ways we might be able to give “with your possessions?” Below is a bullet-point checklist to help broaden our giving perspective.
• Open our house to neighbors and others in need of a listening ear.
• Share our tables or food with new parents, over-worked families, those recuperating from illness, or grieving families who may appreciate the relief of a meal.
• Give a bottle of water to the crew doing yard work or house repairs in the hot sun.
• Pass along clothes from our closets which will be of benefit to growing children.
• Use a spare bedroom to host a guest in town traveling through the area.
• Bring a unique and helpful gift basket for a new parent or house-warming gift.
• Drive our vehicles to give someone a ride to work or a doctor’s appointment.
• Pick the fruits and vegetables from our orchards and gardens to help supply others with food to help reduce the costs of their grocery bills.
• Write letters of encouragement, or even reference letters to help teens with scholarships or adults searching for jobs. Skills and connections are unique “possessions.”
• Communicate with computers and phones and offer support and encouragement electronically through texts, e-mails, and phone calls.
• Take your hands and body and help someone in need of physical labor.
• Gift money and gift cards to help someone in need or embarking on a new journey.
The list could go on and on. Yet, this passage teaches a principle. God will take care of us when we make it our goal to “honor the Lord with your possessions.”
