Category: First Things First Devotional

Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 HCSB

The act of tithing, giving 10% of one’s earnings back to the Lord, is not a new concept. In Genesis 14:20, Abraham gave a tenth of everything he had to God and in Genesis 28:20, Jacob promised to give a tenth of everything he had to the Lord. There are numerous accounts of giving offerings of animals and even grain in the Old Testament. Some say that tithing is not taught in the New Testament but Luke 11:42 and Matthew 23:23 reveal that Jesus instructs the Pharisees that they should not leave it undone – referring to the tithe, but that they should do more. Malachi 3:10 instructs, “ Bring the whole or full tithe to the storehouse.” We are to bring the whole tithe, not a portion of the tithe, and we are to bring our best to God. As we bring our best, we honor God.

Some believe that a tithe should be determined on take- home pay after taxes are taken out, but if it is taxable, it should be tithable. God owns everything; He does not need our tithes and offerings but He knows that we need to learn the principle of giving and sacrificing. God only asks that we give back 10 percent. We are to live on the other 90 percent. The tithe is used to support the work of the church and further God’s kingdom. As we give voluntarily and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7), God will bless us beyond measure. These verses remind us to honor the Lord with our possessions. We should bring the first fruits of our harvest, which is the best part of the harvest. God always deserves our best.

Challenge: Follow the practical advice found in God’s Word and give a tithe of ten percent of your income to your local church and see how God blesses you and your church. Bring the best of your money, resources, talents, and time to the Lord as an offering. God is pleased when we honor Him with our possessions.

Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich both lead only to poverty. Proverbs 22:16 HCSB

There are many car lots that advertise “Buy Here – Pay Here”. Some, but not all charge an excessive interest rate on the money and make the payments low so that the buyer is basically paying the interest and paying very little toward the principal of the loan. If a person misses a payment, the car lot can reposess the car and sell it to another individual. This is taking advantage of the poor because many people who visit these lots have been financially unable to secure a conventional loan through a bank.

This proverb warns against oppressing the poor so as to make more money for oneself. We should look for ways to help the disadvantaged rather than make money off of their condition and cause them even more pain and financially difficulties. This proverb also warns against giving to the rich. This is usually done to gain favor, a privilege, or an advantage in some situation or business deal.

Challenge: Live a life of integrity and treat others as you would want them to treat you. Be fair in your interactions and seek ways to help the poor rather than take advantage of them. Remember that as a believer you represent Jesus Christ in all of your actions and business dealings. Ask God to give you wisdom and direction as you discover how you can assist the poor and needy in your community.

Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it. Proverbs 13:11 HCSB

Bernard Lawrence, “Bernie” Madoff is an American former stockbroker, investment advisor, and financier who was convicted of fraud. He is the former non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market and the admitted operator of a Ponzi scheme that is considered to be the largest financial fraud in U.S. History. In 2009 he pleaded guilty to the charges of defrauding thousands of investors and is now serving 150 years in prison. He also had to give up over 17 billion dollars.

Gaining wealth by fraud and dishonesty will never last. Eventually the truth comes out and the person loses everything. Those who work hard and are good stewards of the resources God provides will find success and happiness. Do not compromise your integrity for the purpose of making a gain at the expense of others. Compromising your integrity is like a snowball going down a hill; one lie only leads to another lie which then leads to even more lies.

Challenge: God’s Word challenges us to work hard and earn our money honestly. A lack of integrity in any area of life is disappointing to God. Use godly principles in all of your business transactions. Be truthful and always do what is right. Treat others as you would want them to treat you and value people more than money.

A faithful man will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 HCSB

Many people search for ways to get-rich-quick. Some purchase lottery tickets and aspire to win millions. Others invest in questionable companies hoping to make dividends. Others are even willing to participate in illegal activities in order to gain wealth. The implication is that these individuals want something for nothing. They are not willing to work diligently to earn the money they desire.

This proverb reminds us that get-rich-quick schemes are not the way to accomplish wealth. Instead, one should be faithful to his job, willing to work hard, and be a good steward of the resources God provides. Those who seek to get-rich-quick will ultimately find emptiness whereas those who work hard and are faithful to the task will discover fulfillment and happiness.

Challenge: Do not get involved in get-rich-quick schemes that often involve unethical and devious shortcuts. Be faithful to your job, always give more than what is expected, and use your resources to help others and glorify God. Thank God for your job and the ability to work.

A good name is to be chosen over great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both. Proverbs 22:1-2 HCSB

There are some fathers who have told their sons, “Remember you represent our family name.” The implication is that the son should act appropriately and do what is right because his actions are a reflection on the whole family and its reputation. The same is true of Christians. We represent Jesus Christ and should conduct ourselves accordingly.

This proverb reminds us that we should seek a good name and favor over silver and gold. Both the rich and poor have the opportunity to be persons of honorable reputation and good character. Being a person who exemplifies graciousness and kindness is much more valuable than having great wealth.

Challenge: Would others say you are a person who has a good name and favor? Do you have a good reputation? How would others describe you? Pray that God would help you represent Christ’s name well and do what is right as you interact with others.

The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses. Proverbs 28:27 HCSB

I have shared this story before in a devotional, but it bears sharing again. Our family had gone on a mission trip/vacation to New York City. As a family we were walking down the crowded sidewalk. There were several people sitting on the sidewalk begging for money. I tried not to make eye contact with them and kept on walking. Turning around to make sure all my children were safe and coming along, I found my oldest daughter, Bethany, stopping at each person and putting a little change out of her own money in each person’s cup or hat who was begging. Bethany has always had a compassionate heart and has always been willing to go without so she could help others. I learned a valuable lesson from my daughter that day.

This Proverb encourages us to give to the poor and not turn our eyes away. Those who turn their eyes away are intentionally ignoring the needs of the poor. We need to be willing to share our resources and help others who are in need, trusting God to take care of our needs. This verse is not encouraging us to give away everything we have, but rather to be willing to give away what we do not need so that others may have what they need. If God has richly blessed us with resources, we should be willing to share with others.

Challenge: Look around your house and in your garage. I am sure you are like me and have a lot of “stuff” that you do not need. Are there people around you who are in need? Could you meet their needs with some of the resources you have? Give to the poor and trust God to provide for your needs.

One person gives freely, yet gains more, another withholds what is right, only to become poor. A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water. Proverbs 11:24-25 HCSB

I can personally attest to the fact that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Over the years when I have been willing to give, even when I did not think I had the money or resources, I have always been blessed. Sometimes it has been monetarily, but more often I have been blessed because God has allowed me to be a part of His plan to bless someone else. I have also experienced times when I have not given because I did not think I had the resources, only to find that I had even less resources and struggled to make ends meet. It is important to learn God’s principle of giving.

God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. There is no greater gift than what God has given to us. We should have that same spirit of giving. When we have an opportunity to give and bless others we should do so as the Holy Spirit gives us direction. As we give we will be blessed and enriched in many different ways. To give generously means to give without expecting anything in return and without concern for personal blessings. To withhold what is right means to be stingy and to keep what could be given to someone in need.

Challenge: Look for a way to give of your time, talents, and resources to help someone this week. Would others consider you to be a generous person? The more you give, the more you will get. It may not be financially, but you will receive many blessings as you take your eyes off of yourself and focus on meeting the needs of others.

Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 HCSB

Dr. O. S. Hawkins, president of Guidestone Financial Resources, an agency that provides insurance and retirement plans for Southern Baptist ministers, has written a book entitled, “Antology”. He begins his book by asking, “What on earth is “antology” and what does it have to do with the issue of retirement? Solomon addressed this subject in a unique way when he challenged us to go to the ant … consider her ways and be wise. (Proverbs 6:6-8). The ant “stores” her provisions in the summer and “gathers” her provisions in harvest for a very important reason. Winter is coming! King Solomon reminds us that much can be learned from studying the ant as it particularly applies to our own winter season of life.”

I have heard it said that one should tithe at least 10% of his income to the church, save at least 10%, put at least 15% into a retirement account, and live on the other 65%. Solomon uses the illustration of an ant to help people realize the importance of making preparation for the future. Many individuals have not been paid well and have not been able to set money aside for retirement. Consequently, they find it difficult to make ends meet in retirement because they did not save money incrementally for the winter season of life.

Challenge: Be wise and plan for the future. Some would say that we must only trust God, however we must also follow God’s Word and His Word clearly encourages us to plan for the future. Trusting God does not mean to be idle. He expects us to do what we can, to work hard, and to save. Have you begun to make provision for the future and retirement? Go to the ant…consider her ways and be wise.

There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 HCSB

My first job was being a paperboy for the Gainesville Sun in Gainesville, Florida. After the papers were delivered to my house, I then had to fold the papers and put a rubber band around each one. If it was raining I placed them in plastic bags. I would then load up my papers in the big basket mounted on the front of my bike. Riding down the street, I would throw the papers in the driveways. Once a month I had to walk house to house and collect the money from my customers. It was hard work but very fulfilling as I saved money to buy a ping pong table.

This Proverb reminds us that we all profit from hard work. Many times hard work will test our physical and emotional abilities. Thomas Jefferson said, “I’m a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” Famous Football coach Vince Lombardi said, “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Work is the key to success, and hard work can help you accomplish anything.”

Challenge: If you want to succeed, pray for God’s guidance and then work hard to accomplish your dreams. To be known as a hard worker is a great compliment. Pray that God will always give you work that will allow you to live out your faith and share the good news of Jesus Christ with those in your circle of influence.

The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4 HCSB

I recently watched a television show on one of the news networks in which the show host was interviewing a person who had been receiving unemployment checks from the government for a year an half. The show host asked the person, “Why don’t you get a job?”, to which he responded, “I want to pursue my dream of becoming a musician in a band”. Pressing further, the show host asked, “If you were offered a job making $80,000 a year would you take it?”, to which he responded, “No”. This person might be described as a slacker who seemingly wanted hard-working tax payers to pay his salary so he could pursue his dream. A diligent person would work hard to earn the necessary funds to pursue his dream.

The writer of this proverb reminds us that even in Old Testament times there were people who were slackers. A slacker is someone who perhaps has a burning desire but is unwilling to exert the energy to accomplish his goal. In contrast, the person who is diligent is willing to labor and work hard. The diligent person does not like idleness or get-rich-quick schemes. There is a sense of satisfaction when one works hard and accomplishes his goal.

Challenge: Don’t be a slacker. If you are physically and mentally able, work hard and earn the money needed to support you and your family. God is pleased when one works hard and uses his God-given talents to earn a living and to help others.