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It's About Honor


          Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10) 

          Part of the reason I garden is in hopes of having produce to share with my neighbors, with friends, with people at church, and through the church, with those who come to our food pantry. Over the past couple years, I’ve shared plants with my neighbor. Buying three seedlings is less expensive than buying one larger plant. This year my neighbor and her family got kale and yellow squash. Since the yellow squash is the plant that has been producing for me, I was able to give three to the food pantry. Unfortunately, my friends are the ones who end up last on the list. It’s a small garden. I’m hoping to learn to do better next year. 
          Most people don’t do much gardening. We’re no longer an agricultural society. A number of churches I’ve attended suggest an alternative that makes sense to me. We honor God out of our gross pay, not our net pay. They may not set a specific amount, but the old testament tithe of ten percent is often used as a good example. That was a starting point for the Jews. I don’t think the amount of money involved, or the size of the harvest is the key to this. 
          The key is how much we want to honor God. Is ten percent of your income a sufficient honor to Him? Is your honor to Him the use of your vehicle? Your garden? Your time? Your talent?  Your treasure? Your obedience? Your faith? This is one of those issues that has to be revisited frequently, as circumstance change. How can you honor Him wherever you find yourself right now?

         

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