Rich in Substance
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3.9
Little Johnnie was attending his first Sunday morning church service after having been brought up in Junior church. Things were different in Big church. There were no coloring pages. There were no action songs. There was a group of people in robes who seemed sad as they sang and everyone else listened. When they were done, a few people said, “Amen.” Johnnie wasn’t sure what that meant.
As the morning service progressed, a man approached the funny table at the front and said, “Would the ushers please come forward to receive the morning tithes and offerings. Some men gathered at the front of the church with plates and after prayer they made their way down the aisles collecting money.
This was more than Little Johnnie could stand. He tugged at his father’s coat sleeve and said, “Dad, what are they doing?” His father quietly explained that these men were taking up offerings to help spread the Good News that Jesus saves.
Little Johnnie was perplexed. He didn’t know what to do! He had no money to offer. As the man with the collection plate neared, Little Johnnie became frantic. What can I give! He had an idea. When the man got close, Little Johnnie reached out and took the plate from him and laid it on the floor. Very cautiously he stepped inside the plate. Well, Little Johnnie’s father was aghast. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
Little Johnnie said, “Dad, everyone was giving something; but, I had nothing to give so I’m giving myself.”
It seems that Little Johnnie had a better grasp of what God desires as an offering than many grown-ups. As a matter of fact, the word “substance” is a word that suggests personal wealth. It indicates what you have – not what you suppose you may get in the future or what you hope to have.
While not everyone can offer great amounts of money or talents, each person has worth because you have been created in the image of God to reflect Him in your life. You can give what you have. God asks, “What is in your hand?” That is what He desires.
Then as you grow and mature, He asks for the first fruits of your increase. As you become more effective in the role determined by God for your life, He will bless you with so much more and allow you to be a greater blessing.
The bottom line is: Give yourself (whatever that may entail) and offer God the increase (as He blesses); and your life will be so full of Him that you’ll not be able to contain it all.
As the morning service progressed, a man approached the funny table at the front and said, “Would the ushers please come forward to receive the morning tithes and offerings. Some men gathered at the front of the church with plates and after prayer they made their way down the aisles collecting money.
This was more than Little Johnnie could stand. He tugged at his father’s coat sleeve and said, “Dad, what are they doing?” His father quietly explained that these men were taking up offerings to help spread the Good News that Jesus saves.
Little Johnnie was perplexed. He didn’t know what to do! He had no money to offer. As the man with the collection plate neared, Little Johnnie became frantic. What can I give! He had an idea. When the man got close, Little Johnnie reached out and took the plate from him and laid it on the floor. Very cautiously he stepped inside the plate. Well, Little Johnnie’s father was aghast. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
Little Johnnie said, “Dad, everyone was giving something; but, I had nothing to give so I’m giving myself.”
It seems that Little Johnnie had a better grasp of what God desires as an offering than many grown-ups. As a matter of fact, the word “substance” is a word that suggests personal wealth. It indicates what you have – not what you suppose you may get in the future or what you hope to have.
While not everyone can offer great amounts of money or talents, each person has worth because you have been created in the image of God to reflect Him in your life. You can give what you have. God asks, “What is in your hand?” That is what He desires.
Then as you grow and mature, He asks for the first fruits of your increase. As you become more effective in the role determined by God for your life, He will bless you with so much more and allow you to be a greater blessing.
The bottom line is: Give yourself (whatever that may entail) and offer God the increase (as He blesses); and your life will be so full of Him that you’ll not be able to contain it all.
Copyright © 2024 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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