HONOUR THE LORD WITH THY SUBSTANCE

The earlier part of Proverbs chapter 3 has linked a person’s faithfulness to the covenant with humility of mind and confidence in God. This attitude, backed up by a rejection of evil, will lead, says verse 9, to a similarly healthy attitude to material possessions. The law of Moses affirms that God has first claim on all that His people have - He must have the firstfruits. Godly attitudes and godly, upright living are a good foundation for a business or career. Both Old and New Testaments proclaim that we do not lose financially by putting God first in our handling of material wealth - ‘honouring God with our substance’.

Psalm 112 describes the godly man. In verse 3 it contains a significant reference to his ‘righteousness’, which mirrors the reference in Psalm 111 verse 3 to the righteousness of God, which ‘endureth for ever’. But in Psalm 112 verse 9 this is linked with his generosity to the poor; and this verse is quoted in 2 Corinthians 9 verse 9. Righteousness before God involves compassion to the needy. The old covenant required that God’s people be faithful to Him and, as He is merciful to His people in their need, they should be merciful to the needy. Hence, the constant emphasis in the law on providing for widows, orphans and strangers, the three classes in society needing help because they had no kin to care for them.

Early in church history, in Acts chapter 6, great importance was placed on providing for widows. The apostle to the gentiles, steeped as he was in the teaching of the law of God, was careful to give due attention to the poor. When the Jerusalem leaders exhorted Barnabas and Paul to remember the poor, Gal. 2. 10, Paul says this was the ‘very thing I was also zealous to do’, RV. In other words, he needed no exhortation, for it was already his intention to do exactly this.

But churches among the gentiles needed to learn to meet the need of Jewish believers in Judea. God, he assured them, would not fail those faithful in this exercise. When they gave to this cause they were sowing, and, in due season, they would reap according to their sowing. God is no man’s debtor. We can afford to be ‘cheerful’ givers, for God feeds farmers who sow!