Honor The Lord With Your Wealth

Money is one of the most stressful topics in life. We think about bills, budgets, savings, and whether we have enough. But long before credit cards and online banking, God gave His people clear wisdom about how to handle their resources. Proverbs 3:9–10 gives us one of the simplest and strongest principles in all of Scripture: honor God first, and trust Him to provide the rest. These two verses may be short, but they carry a huge message about faith, priorities, and God’s promises.

Proverbs 3:9–10 (NIV) says:“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

To understand this passage, we need to step into the world of ancient Israel. Back then, people didn’t get paychecks or direct deposits. They grew crops, raised animals, and lived off the land. When harvest time came, they gathered wheat, olives, grapes, figs, or whatever they had planted. This was their income, their security, and their daily bread. So when God said, “Give Me the firstfruits,” He was asking them to give Him the first and best portion of everything they produced.

Why the “firstfruits”? Why not the leftovers? Because the first part of the harvest was the part that required the most trust. If you gave away the first bushel of grain, you had no guarantee how much more would grow. Giving God the firstfruits said, “Lord, I trust You to take care of me. You are my provider, not my crops.” It was an act of faith, gratitude, and worship all at once.

Today, most of us don’t live on farms, but the principle is exactly the same: we honor God by putting Him first in our finances. That means we don’t give God the leftovers or whatever happens to remain at the end of the month. We give intentionally, joyfully, and as a way of saying, “God, everything I have comes from You. You come first.”

Solomon uses the word “honor,” which means to show value, respect, or weightiness. When we honor God with our wealth, we treat Him as the most important priority in our lives. Money is one of the clearest mirrors of the heart. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If God gets our first and best, it shows He has our hearts. If He only gets the scraps, that says something too.

But Proverbs 3:9–10 is not just a command—it is also a promise. Verse 10 says, “Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” In other words, God blesses those who put Him first. This doesn’t mean God becomes a vending machine where every dollar you give turns into two dollars back. It doesn’t mean life will suddenly become easy or you’ll win the lottery. Instead, it means God takes responsibility for providing what you need. When you trust Him with your resources, He makes sure you are taken care of.

The overflowing barns and brimming vats paint a picture of abundance. God’s blessing isn’t small or stingy. It is full, rich, and satisfying. Sometimes that blessing comes in the form of money or financial stability. Other times it comes as peace, contentment, opportunities, relationships, or unexpected help at just the right moment. God knows exactly what you need and exactly when you need it.

Another important truth is that generosity reshapes our hearts. When we give, we loosen the grip money has on us. We learn to trust God more deeply. We become more grateful for what we have. And we learn that joy comes not from holding tightly to our resources, but from using them to honor the One who gave them in the first place.

So how do we apply Proverbs 3:9–10 today? Start by giving God the first part of your income. It doesn’t have to be complicated or dramatic. Set aside a percentage you want to give—many people choose 10%—and give it consistently. Give it joyfully, remembering that this is an act of worship, not an obligation. Look for opportunities to bless others: your church, missionaries, ministries, or people in need. And most important of all, give with a heart that trusts God to provide.

Here’s one simple step you can take this week: before you spend anything, give something. Make God part of your financial decisions, not an afterthought. Proverbs promises that when you honor God with your wealth, He honors your faith with His provision. When you give Him your first and best, He blesses the rest.

Honor God first. Trust Him fully. Watch Him provide.