In the first few chapters of Proverbs, many verses describe wisdom and its benefits, why we should avoid evil people, and the importance of remembering and cherishing wise counsel. Occasionally there is a pointed description of a specific behavior:
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. (Prov. 3:9-10)
Participating in a modern family business offers a unique opportunity to honor God. Financial assets, your products or services, and the skills, time, energy, passion, and relationships of you or your staff are all various forms of wealth. As an owner-manager, you decide the shape and quantity of your offering to the Lord. Most non-family or publicly-traded businesses just don’t, can’t or won’t make the same faithful commitment.
When we do honor the Lord with our firstfruits, we are in turn rewarded. We may not have barns or vats, but our mental health improves, our relationships with others are more fulfilling, and our outlook on our own financial condition is changed for the better, regardless of whether we ever receive more than we gave (although that often happens).
In what ways are you and your family members “wealthy?” Beyond financial assets, how do you honor the Lord with your strengths, your time, or other gifts?