This Proverb says, “Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; So your barn will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Demonstrating Faith
This Proverb indicates that God values our demonstrated Faith in Him. Giving from our ‘first fruits’ is a demonstration of Faith. When we give to God from our first fruits we are giving without knowing or being assured that we will have enough for ourselves. Therefore, we are trusting in God to provide what we need. That is real Faith.
Abel’s Faith
In the book of Genesis we read the story of Adam and Eve’s son Cain murdering his brother, Abel. Cain did this because God favored Abel’s offering over Cain’s. Abel’s offering found God’s favor because it was from his ‘first fruits.’ Whereas, Cain’s was not. Able demonstrated Faith. Cain did not.
Therefore, when we give to God our giving should demonstrate our Faith that God will provide what we need in life. The Bible says that God will be pleased with our demonstrated Faith. The Bible says that ‘without Faith it is impossible to please God.’
How then do we gain Faith in God? Our Faith in God is developed over a lifetime of living according to the Word of God. It is gained through experiencing God’s blessings for our demonstrated Faith. The Bible says, “For the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith. As it is written, but the righteous man shall live by Faith.”
Our Faith in God will get stronger and stronger throughout our lifetime of experiencing God’s response to our Faith in Him. Our Faith will sustain us and enable us to stand against the evil that is in this world. Ultimately, our Faith will enable us to make it into Heaven after we die.
