By Eric Jinkwen

Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase”

The Bible preaches that we should give honour to whom honour is due. Honour to our parents, to our teachers, to governors, to pastors and God’s servants. We should honour one another.
All humans on earth are sensitive to honour.

People love to be where they are honoured and respected. People love to be recognized and celebrated. Unfortunately, honour is dying in many settings today. In homes, in the church, in the society and in workplaces.

Many marriages are breaking because of lack of honour. Relationships, and careers are crashing because of dishonour. The desire to be honoured is an innate desire in all men. I believe it is part of the image of God that He deposited in every human.

God loves and demands to be honoured. Get this and get it clear today. Our God loves to be respected, celebrated, recognized, acknowledged, and praised. Several times in the Bible, we see God demanding honour. For example, in Malachi 1:6, we read the following, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name…”

The concern of God in this verse is about His honour. “Where is my honour?” He is our Father and Lord. His name demands honour.
By dishonouring God, they were despising His great name. God was not happy with them for doing that.

One of the ways to honour God that comes out clear from Malachi is through giving quality gifts; offering valuable possessions to God. When you read in Malachi 1:6c & 7, you find out that though this people were giving, their gifts were polluted gifts and therefore, dishonouring to God. It says, “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name? By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’

By saying that the LORD’S table may be despised.” They had no reverence for God and for His house. It was disgusting to God that they brought forbidden animals to Him as a sacrifices.
God called their attention in Verse 8, “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.”

God loves and demands precious and valuable gifts from us as acts of honour.
Our opening text says, “Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase” (Proverbs 3:9). Hallelujah!!!
How many Christians do give their firstfruits to God? That is the first harvest of your fields, the first salary you earn, the firstfruits of all your increase in salary and monthly putting aside God’s tithe? This is clearly explained in Malachi 3: 10a “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. ” Hallelujah!!!

Beloved, let us learn to honour God with our possessions and the firstfruits of all our increase. God demands that you honour Him. Tomorrow we shall see the outcome of our honour to God.
May God remember your acts of honour and praise in Jesus name.

read also: dangers of dishonoring your parents