Today’s Scripture
Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits of all your produce. Proverbs 3:9, ESV
Today’s Devotion
As a rule, we don’t grab a loaf of bread and wave it around at church. That kind of behavior is usually frowned on – if not by your pastor, then by the janitor who has to sweep up the breadcrumbs.
In ancient Israel, however, this kind of thing wasn’t just normal, it was expected. The Feast of First Fruits was an annual celebration and act of worship. When spring came and the barley crops ripened, farmers gathered a bundle of grains and presented them to the priest at the temple. The priest would wave the grains up, down, and side to side while the farmers recited a section of the Torah that spoke of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Once the offering was given, the Jewish farmers could return home and harvest their crops.
It’s an interesting, 3,000-year-old tradition. Why talk about it today? Because it’s not just about waving a bundle of grain at the Jewish temple. It’s about choosing to honor God with our very best. Farmers gave the best of the newly ripened grains to God. as a reminder that God is the source of all blessings. It was also an act of faith: If I’ve just given my best part of my crop to God, then I must trust Him to provide an abundant harvest for my family.
Proverbs 3:9 tells us to “Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits of all your produce” (ESV). God asks you and your spouse to honor God with your very best – your money, your time, and your talents. He is the source of all good things. He is worthy of honor. And you show faith when you give because you’re trusting Him to provide for all your needs.
What difference will it make in your marriage when you and your spouse honor God with your very best?
Today’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are the source of all good things. Thank you. How can we serve you with our time, talents, and money? Amen.
