Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.Honor the Lord with your wealth,
Proverbs 3:7-10
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Scripture Notes
Scripture consistently reminds us to be humble and to fear the Lord. Here, we encounter another paradox: we deny ourselves indulgence and decadence not out of strict rules but for our own well-being. While we recognize that many things in this world are not good for us, we often justify them by believing we deserve them. A new job, a baby, making it until Friday without yelling at someone, or exercising—all these are moments when we say no to something sugary once, and then feel we have earned a reward. Our society favors rewards, whether they are genuine, manufactured, or entirely undeserved.
Following the rules and believing in God does not guarantee good health and strength either. What we do find is that when we are spiritually aligned with Christ, we are no longer fighting against our Creator and instead receive support. The world might pursue impulse, desire, indulgence, or vice, but we are called to a higher purpose than self-satisfaction. This involves sacrifice and the uncomfortable feeling of missing out, but good discipline yields greater rewards.
As we care for our body and spirit, we realize that when we indulge ourselves, we are often enjoying the first fruits of our labor, which ultimately belong to God. Here’s another paradox: we are to give away the best of what we have in order to receive more. It is not about tangles or worldly riches but about showing that our trust is in the Lord. In a society that hoards and accumulates blessing after blessing, we are called to be generous. An essential understanding of all this is that what we possess through hard work or reward is not truly ours. We are borrowers, temporary holders, and tenants. Nothing material follows us after we leave this earth, so we see ourselves as stewards, not owners.
When we practice proper stewardship and are spiritually aligned with Christ, we discover that the old desires of the world no longer control us. We view our lives not as opportunities for wealth or power but as temporary states. Our joy comes not from material things but from the eternal. We no longer feel the need for indulgence or vice to satisfy an appetite or to escape. We have a purpose, and our lives carry more meaning than just eating, drinking, and being merry. We live for Christ, to serve His purpose and to be generous because we understand that a life devoted to the Lord is more valuable than anything the world can provide.
The challenge is trusting in God when the world around us feels unchanging and overwhelming. Ultimately, we must decide whether to live by faith and depend on the Lord or rely on our own limited devices (Proverbs 1:30-33). This trust means surrendering the best we have to offer, including not just monetary tithing but also our attention, devotion, energy, time, faith, and love. We are not gods unto ourselves, but children of the Almighty and heirs to his glorious kingdom. How can we pass up the legacy such as this for the indulgences of a broken world?
MEMORY VERse
Miles Birket Foster. Young Girl in an Orchard with a Basket of Fruit, c. 1850. The Art Institute of Chicago
Related Verses
More verses about proper stewardship:
Prayer Invitation
Application Questions
- In what ways can I practice the giving of first fruits, and in what ways will it strengthen my faith in God’s provision?
- How can I use my influence, skills, resources, energy, and focus to honor God beyond my finances?
- How can I shift my perspective to be more focused on increased peace, spiritual growth, and appreciation, rather than on material things or financial blessings?
- What is a specific and tangible way I can practice generosity with my finances this week? What other ways can I be generous besides money?
MANÁ 
Leave a comment