December 6, 2022
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles–all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones. 9Honor the LORD with your wealth And with the first fruits of all your crops (income); 10Then your barns will be abundantly filled And your vats will overflow with new wine.
There are many great and precious promises in the Word of God. While some of them are given, others are conditional! This is a great example of the reality. Jesus told His disciples,
“Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” Matt 7:17-18 AMP
What “comes from our lives” is a direct reflection of what is going on “in our lives!” If we are walking in the ways of the Lord then there are direct results that we can expect. King Solomon in fact is pleading with the young, do not walk in your own way! There is wisdom with age. The more experience we have, the more we can see God’s faithfulness and the reality of His promises! I love how the Amplified Bible brings out the intent of the Greek word “Fear. The motivation is “reverent awe;” the action is obedience! Keeping the reverent awe is a matter of trusting in God’s ways and forsaking own. Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of following their own way! It is the same old story today as then. “God wants to keep you from something, and His way isn’t really the best.” And once again, the trap is set for failure!
I love the picture Solomon paints, one of body, bones, muscles, and sinews. The Word of God are the bones. A body cannot exist with these parts. But bones in and of themselves are lifeless. In order for them to function or move, they must be powered by something, muscles! Muscles create the motion and activity of the bones. But muscles cannot simply attach themselves to the bones, they need sinews, tough, fibrous tissues uniting muscle to bones! It is the part that “binds it together allowing motion and movement to occur. Sinews represent out faith! Our faith in God’s Word allows the promises of God to come to life resulting in action! The more we exercise walking in God’s Word, the more strength there is in our walk!
It is interesting that next Solomon stresses the importance of honoring God with our wealth! I think that he knew that of all of life’s areas, giving is the one everyone struggles with the most! Satan uses a fear that God will not come through in my time of need if I help someone else in theirs! Let me remind you of a few muscles that you need to exercise!
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right–the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Matthew 6:33 AMP
“Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.” Malachi 3:10 AMP
Can you see it? We are commanded to be givers of our lives, time, and finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God! The promise is that we would be “abundantly” provides for, internally and externally! At this time of the year, people are more prone to give. Don’t fall into the trap of only opening your wallet at this time of the year! Be faithful with everything God has put into your hand and watch the faithfulness of God at work!
Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken