My God and My Country

The Book of Proverbs

Chapter 3:9-10

Thanksgiving Day

November 23, 2017

Commentary by Matthew Henry

Edited by R.P. Woitowitz Sr.

9 Honor the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruits of all thine increase.

10 So shall thy barns be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall burst with new wine.

“ A precept which makes it our duty to serve God with our estates: Honour the Lord with thy substance. It is the end of our creation and redemption to honour God, to be to him for a name and a praise; we are no other way capable of serving him than in his honour. His honour we must show forth and the honour we have for him. We must honour him, not only with our bodies and spirits which are his, but with our estates too, for they also are his: we and all our appurtenances must be devoted to his glory. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it, and then, if ever, it becomes substantial. We must honour God, with our increase. Where riches increase we are tempted to honour ourselves (Read Deuteronomy 8:17 ) and to set our hearts upon the world (Read Psalm 62:10 ); but the more God gives us the more we should study to honour him. It is meant of the increase of the earth, for we live upon annual products, to keep us in constant dependence on God and with all our increase. As God has prospered us in every thing, we must honour him.

God, who is the first and best, must have the first and best of every thing; his right is prior to all other, and therefore he must be served first. Note, It is our duty to make our worldly estates serviceable to our religion, to use them and the interest we have by them for the promoting of religion, to do good to the poor with what we have and abound in all works of piety and charity, devising liberal things.

A promise, which makes it our interest to serve God with our estates. It is the way to make a little much, and much more; it is the surest and safest method of thriving: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty. He does not say thy bags, but thy barns, not thy wardrobe replenished, but thy presses: ‘God shall bless thee with an increase of that which is for use, not for show or ornament—for spending and laying out, not for hoarding and laying up.’ Those that do good with what they have shall have more to do more good with.

If we make our worldly estates serviceable to our religion we shall find our religion very serviceable to the prosperity of our worldly affairs. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is and most of the comfort of it. We mistake if we think that giving will undo us and make us poor. No, giving for God’s honour will make us rich. (a)” - Matthew Henry - Theologian

(a) - Editor’s thought: It is not only in the sense of wealth, but likewise rich in our spirits. Recall if you will the passage of the widow and the mite, found both in the Gospels of Mark and Luke.
[Read Mark 12:41-43; Luke 21:1-3]. Therefore it behooves us to give unto the Lord. In particular, when we give out of our lack, we are later onward blessed with abundance in multiple ways. - R.P. Woitowitz Sr. - Servant in the service of Christ Jesus