Honoring God with Substance: The Forgotten Law of Increase

Proverbs 3:9–10 says, “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.”

This passage establishes one of the most powerful economic laws in the entire Word of God. It is the principle of honor through substance. God does not tell us to honor Him merely in words or emotion. He commands that we honor Him tangibly with the first portion of everything He allows us to produce.

In Hebrew, the word for honor, kabed, means weight, value, and worth. To honor the Lord, therefore, means to give weight to Him through action that demonstrates value. True honor always requires something that costs us. It touches what we hold dear, because giving proves trust.

When we honor God with our substance, the result is abundance. “Your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow.” God Himself connects giving with increase. This is divine cause and effect. Those who withhold remain limited, but those who release in faith see supernatural supply.

This law extends beyond our personal giving to how we treat the vessels God uses to impart wisdom. Galatians 6:6 echoes the same truth: “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” It is a command, not a suggestion. The law of honor governs how the Kingdom sustains itself.

When believers expect to receive teaching, counsel, and spiritual strategy without honoring those who labor, they violate Proverbs 3:9. They take spiritual fruit but refuse to sow material seed. This disobedience closes the door to blessing. You cannot receive divine increase while dishonoring the source God uses to release it.

Every ministry requires resources to function. Counsel, teaching, and Kingdom consulting are sacred labors that require time, energy, and preparation. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:11, “If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?” The modern Church must return to this understanding of righteous exchange.

When Christians give freely to support ministry, they are not paying for revelation. They are participating in the divine law of honor. They are acknowledging that what they received came from God, and by giving, they make room for more. That is why the promise follows the command: “Then your barns will be filled.”

Those who call themselves Christians yet refuse to honor this command expose a heart of rebellion or immaturity. They may sing songs about trust, yet they do not trust God with their substance. True discipleship requires obedience, and Proverbs 3:9–10 is not optional. It is a command that reveals faith and integrity.

When the Church obeys this law, ministries thrive, and believers prosper. The cycle of giving, honor, and overflow is restored. God is glorified, His work advances, and His people live in the abundance of obedience. That is the Kingdom way. That is divine order.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”