Proverbs 3:9 is one of the Bible's clearest teachings about money and giving. It tells us to honor God with our wealth and to give Him our "firstfruits"—the first and best of what we earn. This verse isn't just about money though. It's about putting God first in every area of our lives and trusting Him to take care of us when we do.
The Verse in Different Translations
Let's look at how different Bible versions translate this important verse:
What Does This Verse Mean?
Proverbs 3:9 gives us a clear command about how to handle what God has given us. Let's break down the key parts of this verse:
"Honor the Lord"
To "honor" someone means to show them respect, value, and importance. When we honor God, we're saying that He matters more than anything else. We're recognizing that everything we have comes from Him, and we want to live in a way that shows we're grateful.
Honoring God isn't just about what we say or think. It's about what we do with our lives, including how we use our money and possessions.
"With your wealth"
The word "wealth" here means everything you own—your money, your possessions, and anything else of value. In Bible times, when this was written, most people were farmers, so their wealth was things like grain, animals, and crops. Today, it might be the money from your job, your savings, or anything else you've earned.
This verse tells us that God cares about what we do with our money. Our finances aren't separate from our faith. How we spend, save, and give shows what we really believe about God.
"With the firstfruits"
The "firstfruits" were the first crops harvested from a field. In ancient Israel, God commanded His people to bring these first crops to Him as an offering before they kept any for themselves. This showed that they trusted God to provide for their needs.
The firstfruits were special because they were the best part of the harvest. Farmers would pick the finest, most perfect crops to give to God. They didn't wait until after they used what they wanted and then give God the leftovers. They gave Him the first and best.
Today, the principle of firstfruits means giving to God first, before we pay our bills or spend money on ourselves. It means trusting that God will take care of us even when we give Him the best of what we have.
Understanding the Full Context
Proverbs 3:9 makes even more sense when we read it with the verse that follows. Let's look at verses 9-10 together:
It's important to understand that this verse isn't about making a deal with God. We don't give to God just so He'll give back to us. That would be selfish and would miss the whole point.
Instead, this verse is about trust. When we give to God first, we're saying, "God, I trust You to take care of me. I believe You'll provide what I need." And God promises that when we trust Him like this, He'll be faithful to care for us.
Practical Teaching Points
What can we learn from Proverbs 3:9 for our daily lives?
1. Give to God Before Anything Else
The principle of firstfruits means giving to God first, not last. When you get paid, the first thing you should do is set aside what you'll give to God's work. Don't wait until you've paid all your bills and bought everything you want. Give to God first, then manage the rest.
This takes faith because you have to trust that God will help you make it through the month with what's left. But that's exactly the kind of faith God wants to develop in us.
2. Give Your Best, Not Your Leftovers
God doesn't want the money we don't care about or the time we can't use for anything else. He wants our best. This means thinking carefully about what we give and making sure we're being generous, not stingy.
Ask yourself: Am I giving God something I'll actually miss? Or am I just giving what I won't notice is gone? True giving costs us something.
3. It's Not Just About Money
While this verse specifically talks about wealth, the principle applies to everything we have. We can honor God with our time by serving others. We can honor Him with our talents by using them for His purposes. We can honor Him with our words by speaking kindly and truthfully.
Everything we have is a gift from God, and everything can be used to honor Him.
4. God Keeps His Promises
This verse comes with a promise in verse 10—God will bless those who honor Him with their wealth. This doesn't always mean He'll make you rich, but it does mean He'll take care of you. Many people who practice giving to God first discover that somehow their money goes farther than it should.
5. Giving Shows What We Value
Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). When we give to God, we're showing that we value Him more than money. We're proving to ourselves and others that God really does come first in our lives.
Common Questions and Answers
What does "firstfruits" mean for Christians today?
For most people today, firstfruits means giving to God from the first money you receive. When you get a paycheck, a gift, or any income, you give a portion to God before you spend it on anything else. Many Christians practice tithing, which means giving 10% of their income. The key is that it comes first, not after everything else is taken care of.
Do I have to give exactly 10% to honor God?
The 10% tithe comes from the Old Testament law, where God commanded His people to give a tenth of everything. While the New Testament doesn't repeat this exact command, it does encourage generous giving. Many Christians use 10% as a starting point, but the most important thing is to give cheerfully, sacrificially, and consistently. Some people give more than 10%, and God loves that kind of generous heart.
What if I can barely pay my bills? Can I still honor God?
This is a tough situation many people face. Start by praying and asking God for wisdom. Even if you can't give much right now, you can still honor the principle of firstfruits by giving something first before spending on other things. You might start with a small percentage and increase it as God provides. Remember, God cares more about your heart and your willingness to trust Him than the exact amount you give.
Where should I give my firstfruits?
The Bible teaches that we should support our local church, where we receive spiritual food and fellowship. Beyond that, you can give to ministries, missionaries, and organizations that do God's work. The important thing is to give where the money will be used to honor God and help others.
Is this just an Old Testament teaching?
While Proverbs is in the Old Testament, the principle of honoring God with our wealth is repeated throughout the New Testament. Jesus talked about money more than almost any other topic. The Apostle Paul encouraged generous giving in his letters. The principle that everything we have belongs to God and should be used to honor Him is timeless.
References in Modern Culture
The principle of giving to God first and trusting Him to provide has shown up in many real-life stories and teachings:
In Literature and Biographies
Many Christian biographies tell stories of people who practiced firstfruits giving and saw God provide in amazing ways. George Müller, who ran orphanages in England in the 1800s, never asked people for money but prayed and gave to God first. He saw countless miracles of provision throughout his life.
In Modern Teaching
Christian financial teachers like Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial Ministries emphasize giving as the first step in managing money wisely. They teach that honoring God with your firstfruits isn't just spiritually right—it's also practically wise because it keeps money in its proper place in your life.
Real-Life Examples
Many Christians today share stories of how God provided for them when they started tithing, even when it seemed impossible. While we shouldn't give just to get something back, these stories remind us that God really does keep His promises to care for those who honor Him.
Related Bible Verses
Proverbs 3:9 connects to many other verses about giving and trusting God with our finances:
How to Apply This Verse Today
Here are practical ways to apply the truth of Proverbs 3:9 to your life:
- Start giving to God first: If you don't already give to God from your income, start today. Even if you begin with a small amount, make it the first thing you do when you get money.
- Calculate your giving: Figure out what percentage you're currently giving. If it's less than 10%, pray about increasing it gradually until you reach that biblical standard.
- Set up automatic giving: Many churches let you set up automatic payments. This helps you give your firstfruits without having to remember each time.
- Give your time and talents too: Look for ways to honor God with more than just money. Volunteer at church, use your skills to help others, or mentor someone who needs guidance.
- Trust God with the results: After you give, don't worry about whether you'll have enough. Trust that God will keep His promise to provide for you.
- Give cheerfully: Check your attitude when you give. Are you happy to honor God this way, or does it feel like a burden? Ask God to help you give with joy.
- Teach your children: If you have kids, let them see you giving to God first. Help them learn to give from their allowance or earnings so they develop this habit early.
- Be consistent: Don't just give when you feel like it. Make it a regular practice, whether times are good or tough.
Conclusion
Proverbs 3:9 teaches us something that goes against our natural thinking. Our instinct is to take care of ourselves first and give to God if there's anything left over. But God asks us to flip that around—to honor Him first and trust Him to take care of us.
This verse isn't really about money at all. It's about trust. It's about believing that God is who He says He is—our provider, our Father, and the One who loves us. When we give our firstfruits to God, we're not just writing a check or putting cash in an offering plate. We're making a statement: "God, I trust You more than I trust money. I believe You'll take care of me."
The beautiful thing is that God promises He will take care of us when we honor Him this way. He's not asking us to do something that will hurt us. He's inviting us to discover that He really is trustworthy. Over and over, people who practice firstfruits giving discover that God provides in ways they never expected.
But even more than the financial blessing, there's a spiritual blessing that comes from honoring God with our wealth. When we give first, we keep money in its proper place. We prevent it from becoming an idol. We experience the freedom that comes from holding things loosely and trusting God completely.
The challenge of Proverbs 3:9 is simple but not easy: Will you trust God enough to give Him your firstfruits? Will you put Him first with your money, your time, and everything you have? If you will, you'll discover that God keeps His promises. You'll find that honoring Him with your wealth leads to blessing—maybe not always in the way you expect, but always in ways that matter.
Start today. Take what you have, give the first and best to God, and watch what He does with your faithfulness. He's waiting to show you that He really is worthy of your trust.