July 27 - Our Substance & Correction.

Part of fearing the Lord is giving to Him what He not only rightfully deserves, but requires.
 
Proverbs 3:9-10
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
 
Our substance – all that we have and are, was given to us from the Lord by His grace and mercy. We must in turn honour Him by obeying His commands.
 
Malachi 3:8-10
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
 
We have not given anything to the Lord until we have paid our tithe to the local church. Anything above that is our offering to Him. There is no blessing when we do not obey Him; disobedience is not wise.
 
Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
 
Those that do not obey Him, if they are truly His children, will surely find themselves chastised for their actions. A loving Father corrects His children because He wants what is best for them. When the Lord corrects us, He does so in love. Those that do wrong and receive no chastening should evaluate their relationship with Him.
 
The chastening of the Lord should remind us that we are His children.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Ezra 3-4  |  Hebrews 3  |  Proverbs 27