A Bible Devotion

PROVERBS 3:9-10 NKJ 9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Giving money is not the only way to show honor, but it is one way.

The word translated honor means to value. Honoring someone is a way of showing them, and others, that they are valuable to you.

Scripture connects giving of money with honor. Specifically included are God, your parents, those who preach or teach the Word of God, and widows.

MATTHEW 15:4-6 NLT 4 For instance, God says, Honor your father and mother,' and Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.'" 5 But you say, `You don't need to honor your parents by caring for their needs if you give the money to God instead.' 6 And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God.

1 TIMOTHY 5:17-18 NKJ 17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

The double honor spoken of in verse 17 for those whose work is bringing us insight from God's Word is clearly financial support, as verse 18 explains. The NLT translation makes this clear.

1 TIMOTHY 5:17-18 NLT 17 Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"

1 TIMOTHY 5:3-4 NKJ 3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

Again, to see that honor includes giving support, look at the NLT translation.

1 TIMOTHY 5:3-4 NLT 3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

ROMANS 13:7 NKJ 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

SAY THIS: I will give honor to whom honor is due.