HONOUR THE LORD

"Honour the Lord with thy substance." -Proverbs 3:9 [KJV]

O may this be the daily study of our hearts, and the constant practice of our lives! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to the Lord: for the marriage of the Lamb is come” (Revelation 19:7.) He is our husband: we are espoused to Him by faith. Consider the work of honouring the Lord, and the reasons for it. 

(1st.) The work. What! can I, a worm of the earth, honour the Lord of heaven: Yes; thou art called to it, and formed for it. This honour have all His saints. It is our greatest honour on earth to honour our Lord in heaven. “All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord! and Thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power: to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom” (Psalm 145:10, 11, 12.) 

So they honoured the Lord of old, in displaying the glory of His grace. This work you are called to, if you have seen the glory of His kingdom, felt the power of it, and entered into it by faith. “Honour the Lord with thy substance.” Do not put such a dry, shriveled comment upon the word substance, as though it meant giving a trifle now and then to the poor. Remember, the liberal deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he shall stand, or be established (see Isaiah 32:8.) 

Do not dispense shadow, when the Lord requires substance. If thy soul is liberal, thou wilt devise liberal things. This text will not only remind you, of liberally dispensing of your substance to the poor and needy: but also of honouring your Lord, by the faith of your heart, the love of your soul, placing your whole affections upon Him, and devoting your substance, your whole spirit, soul, and body, unto Him. You will not be content with notions without life; form, without spirit; worship, without the heart; religion, without the soul. For, (2d.) Consider the reason of this. (1st.) God has put the highest honour upon you. “He has called you into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 1:9.) 

“He has blessed you with all spiritual blessings in Him” (Ephesians 1:3.) There is not one blessing God has to bestow, or Christ is possessed of; but is treasured up for you in Christ, and shall be received out of the fulness of Christ. Can you walk in the fellowship of Christ, and not delight to honour God with your substance? 

(2d.) You received all this freely; therefore, you ought to give freely. You are a pensioner upon God; and God is, as it were, a petitioner to you. Can you refuse Him Who speaks? Can you withhold any thing from Him, by Whom you enjoy your ALL? 

(3d.) You have but a little to honour your Lord. Let the faith of this stir you up to exert all your might. Only call in, and consult faith and love, and act under their influence to God’s love. 

 

O grant me, Lord, this one request, 

And I’ll be satisfy’d;— 

That love divine may rule my heart, 

And all my actions guide.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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