Proverbs 3:9 Honoring God with Wealth
Got Money! Now What?

Proverbs 3:9 NIV Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Proverbs has so much financial information in it.

I hope you have already watched 7 Ways to Avoid Poverty, the 1st video in this series.

Proverbs reminds us that the rich can act in the wrong ways.
Their wealth can be considered as their protection (Proverbs 10:15).  They can trust in riches instead of God (Proverbs 11:28).  They can mock the poor (Proverbs 17:5). They can oppress the poor (Proverbs 22:16). They can be perverse (Proverbs 28:6).

The Rich can serve God with their money and possessions. How can they do that?

They need to be generous to the poor.  1 Timothy 6:17-18 ESV As for the rich in this present age, charge them not
to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God,
who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (18) They are to do good,
to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

They need to be kind to the poor.  Proverbs 14:31 NIV Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their
Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

We have noticed the rich can mock the poor. Proverbs 17:5 NIV Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their
Maker;”  But God considers the poor to have value in spite of their financial woes.  So, if the rich will: 1)Validate the poor by working alongside them; 2)Cooperate or support the efforts of the poor; 3)Listen to the poor and their ideas and concerns. 

Instead of mocking, they value, cooperate and listen.

In these kinds of actions, the rich can honor God.

And Proverbs instructs the rich to share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9 NIV The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share
their food with the poor.”

Sharing food is just one thing that Jesus talked about in Matt 25:31-46. The “sheep”, those being welcomed into their eternal inheritance,  “the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 25:35-40 NIV “For I was hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited me in, (36) I needed clothes and you clothed
me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came
to visit me.’ (37) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when
did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
something to drink? (38) When did we see you a stranger and invite
you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (39) When did we see you
sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (40) “The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”

Those going to heaven will Feed the hungry; Give drink to the thirsty; Show hospitality; Cloth the poor and homeless; Take care of the sick; And Visit people in jail.

Everyone I know can consider themselves rich.  We all need to be Generous, Kind, Caring and cooperative, and Sharing.