Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness: that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10, LXX, Brenton)
These two verses in Proverbs 3 are bursting with promise. To understand these verses we must remember that a proverb (parable, riddle, dark saying) is God’s way of speaking to us indirectly, so that those who are wise, who fear the Lord, will understand the true meaning. As Solomon wrote at the beginning of the Book of Proverbs:
For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and man of understanding will gain direction; and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the saying of the wise also, and riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:5-7, LXX, Brenton)
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at Proverbs 3, verses 9 and 10, to see and understand the glorious promises contained within: that if we love God, if we abide in the true vine that is Jesus Christ — keeping his words, doing righteous works and offering up our spiritual sacrifices — we will be filled with life everlasting. Amen, and Amen!
Honour the Lord
We honour the Lord by keeping his commandment that we love him before all else, and with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. As Jesus confirmed, this is the first and great commandment.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)
In John 14, Jesus explains that our love of God is demonstrated by keeping his commandments and his words.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. (John 14:23-24)
The only way we can keep Jesus’ words and sayings is if we know them, something that only comes from abiding in the Word, which is Jesus Christ.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)
In the letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus upbraids the Ephesians for having left their first love, which he equates with doing the first works, and by such, points them back to the first commandment.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)
Just Labours
Our just labours are the righteous works we are called to do as followers of Christ, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, taking in the stranger, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison (Matthew 25:35-40). Such good works fall squarely within the second commandment, to love our neighbour as ourselves.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)
We are also called to bestow our labour of the Word upon those outside the body of Christ, as well as those within the flock of God.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
And whether we’re engaged in good works, evangelism or teaching, we must remember to do all things for the Lord and in the name of the Lord, who will be right there working alongside us.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:23)
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20)
First Fruits of Righteousness
Before considering the fruits of our righteousness, we have to understand that our righteousness is not our own but comes from Jesus through our faith in him. When we are born again of the spirit of God, we are clothed in his righteousness.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)
Just as our righteousness comes from Jesus, so do the fruits of our righteousness.
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11)
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)
And we ought to direct these fruits back to the one from whom they came.
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11)
Considering that the fruits in this proverb are the first fruits, it’s important to know that all first fruits are precious, both to those who offer them and to the Lord God unto whom they are offered: the firstlings of the flock (Genesis 4:4), the first of the fruits of the land (Exodus 23:19), and the best of the oil and wine (Numbers 18:12). Today, we no longer offer such fruits to the Lord, but we do offer spiritual sacrifices, the fruit of our lips.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)
We must remember that God is not asking anything of us that he himself is not willing to do. Because of his love for us, the Father offered his first fruits, his only begotten Son, that we might be saved.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
Storehouse
Our storehouse is our body, which is the temple of God. In this world, our bodies need food and water to live. The bread and wine of Proverbs 3 points both to physical food and drink, as well as to the spiritual, which is the word of God and the Holy Spirit.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The following passage from Isaiah 58 shows that if we honour the Lord, not by a fast of our own choosing but by the fast he chooses (just labours), then our body (storehouse) will be filled with light and health, and God will be with us continually, his Holy Spirit dwelling inside us (temple of God), and our physical bodies will be nourished and strong.
I have not chosen such a fast, saith the Lord; but do thou loose every burden of iniquity, do thou untie the knots of hard bargains, set the bruised free, and cancel every unjust account. Break thy bread to the hungry, and lead the unsheltered poor to thy house: if thou seest one naked, clothe him, and thou shalt not disregard the relations of thine own seed. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall speedily spring forth: and thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of God shall compass thee. Then shalt thou cry, and God shall hearken to thee; while thou art yet speaking he will say, Behold, I am here. If thou remove from thee the band, and the stretching forth of the hands, and murmuring speech; and if thou give bread to the hungry from thy heart, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light spring up in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as noon-day: and thy God shall be with thee continually, and thou shalt be satisfied according as thy soul desires; and thy bones shall be made fat, and shall be as a well-watered garden, and as a fountain from which the water has not failed. (Isaiah 58:6-11)
Corn
The word σῖτος, which is translated as corn, can also be translated as grain or wheat, which is used to make bread. Jesus is the bread of life, and he tells us that his flesh is that bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)
When being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus replied by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, saying that man doesn’t live by bread only but by every word of God. In this, he is equating the word of God with bread and nourishment.
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:4)
And we know from John, chapter 1, that Jesus is the Word that was made flesh.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Thus, corn equals wheat, which makes bread, which is Jesus’ flesh, which is the word of God. We eat the Word by reading it, and digest it by meditating upon it.
But his pleasure is in the law of the Lord; and in his law will he meditate day and night. (Psalms 1:2, LXX, Brenton)
Here are two examples of eating the Word, one with Ezekiel and the other the apostle John.
And he said to me, Son of Man, eat this volume, and go and speak to the children of Israel. So he opened my mouth, and caused me to eat the volume. And he said to me, Son of man, thy mouth shall eat, and thy belly shall be filled with this volume that is given to thee. So I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. (Ezekiel 3:1-3, LXX, Brenton)
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. (Revelation 10:9-10)
Presses
Our presses, or wine presses, are our hearts, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9), the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), and the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 2:17). And the Spirit of his Son:
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (Ephesians 3:17)
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (John 6:56)
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)
When we pray and commune with God, we do so from and within our heart. And this is the great blessing of the new covenant, that we have been given the grace to enter into God’s presence directly from within our heart. And because our body is the temple of God, and we are a holy and a royal priesthood, we are able to offer up spiritual sacrifices from within our fleshy heart, our holy of holies, to show forth our praise of the one true living God.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. (Psalms 141:2, LXX, Brenton)
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
And I will give you a new heart, and will put a new spirit in you: and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26, LXX, Brenton)
Wine
The wine is Jesus’ blood that he tells us we must drink in order to have eternal life. This is a picture of the Holy Spirit, which can only be poured into us when we are born again and given a new heart of flesh, as a heart of stone is like an old bottle that cannot receive new wine.
And I will give you a new heart, and will put a new spirit in you: and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26, LXX, Brenton)
Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17)
Further, we know that the life is in the blood, and it is the spirit that gives life.
For the blood of all flesh is its life; and I said to the children of Israel, Ye shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood: every one that eats it shall be destroyed. (Leviticus 17:14, LXX, Brenton)
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)
Feast on the Lord
We must daily feast on the spiritual bread and wine that comes from the Lord, the father of lights (James 1:17), and be careful to avoid the spiritual bread and wine that comes from following the ways of the world and the father of lies (John 8:44).
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors. In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away. For they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not. For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression. (Proverbs 4:14-17, LXX, Brenton)
When we feast on the Lord, filled with the word of God and the spirit of God, we have eternal life, and will be raised again on the last day. Praise God!
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:53-58)
In Summary
Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness: that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10, LXX, Brenton)
Honour the Lord: keep his commandment that we love him before all else (first and great commandment)
Just labours: good works that we are called to do as disciples of Christ, feed the flock of God, share the gospel, love our neighbour as ourselves (second commandment)
First fruits of righteousness: praise and prayer (spiritual sacrifices)
Storehouses: our body (temple of God)
Corn: wheat, bread, staff of life (word of God)
Presses, wine presses: heart (holy of holies)
Wine: blood, life is in the blood (Holy Spirit)
The Conclusion of the Matter
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
