A Thought

“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”  Proverb 3:9-10

As the saying goes, ‘All we have is a gift from the Lord; what we do with what we have is our gift to the Lord’.  There is nothing the faithful can possess without an understanding of ‘stewardship’; that is, what we have been given responsibility and watch over for the sake of the Lord.  There is nothing within our power to grasp that does not first belong to the Lord. 

The “firstfruits” are the tithe we offer to the Lord as an expression of gratitude for all we have charge over.  This is the portion that was given to the support of the Temple, and today it is the portion we give in support of the Church.  Beyond this tithe, however, is still a duty and responsibility to use what we have not only to sustain ourselves and our families responsibly (not extravagantly; that is, beyond basic needs) but to share with those who have not even their basic needs met. 

I realize we live in a time when many actually make a living taking from those who are generous with what they have, but we must also understand the limits of judgment when we withhold from those who need, not knowing the whole story.  We must also be willing to embrace the certain promise that comes from the Lord to those who “honor the Lord” with ALL possessions in giving the tithe faithfully, living morally and responsibly, and sharing generously.  That promise is this: “Your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

It is the sure and certain covenantal promise from the Lord that if we will trust Him first with everything we have in tithes AND offerings, He will see to it that we have the “plenty”.  As for those who take what they do not need or what they can earn for themselves, the Lord will deal with them in His time.

Let us learn to let go of the things we hoard, the things that will rust or that can be stolen, the things that actually bind us; and let us learn to embrace the certain promise of the Lord.  Then – and only then – will we truly learn of the Lord’s intent for His own.

Blessings,

Michael