Monday Bible Study: The Abundance of Margin

August 3rd, 2026

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 3:9-10

"Honor the LORD with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce; Then will your barns be filled with plenty, with new wine your vats will overflow." — Proverbs 3:9-10 (NABRE)

I'm experiencing something "weird" and I want to name it because it's something that I think a LOT of people crave, but don't realize it's what they're actually desiring…

I'm AHEAD.

For maybe the first time in my life, I'm actively practicing creating MARGIN between:

• when I do work and the deadline
• when I pay the bill and when it's due
• when I make sure I have the necessary info and when I NEED to know it by
• when I rest to ensure I have enough energy for what's coming next vs after I'm already depleted

I've always been someone who operates in "just in time" mode, with very little wiggle room. I used to let things get nearly fully depleted before I focused on re-filling. And honestly, I thought it was how I was wired... but I think that was a story I told myself before I knew Jesus in the way I've been getting to know Him lately.

Ya'll, God does NOT want you/me/us rushing.

He wants us to have SPACE between what we MUST do, and what we are ABLE to do.

He doesn't want us to drive 99 miles with 100 miles of gas in the tank.

He doesn't want us to finish a project with 30 seconds to spare.

He wants us to have more than enough, all the time.

But here's the SUPER tricky part I've realized:

What WE think is more than enough, and what HE thinks is abundance, are often QUITE different perspectives.

I think the reason it often feels like God answers us at 11:59 when we "need" something by midnight has less to do with Him trying to stress us out or "prove how awesome He is"...

And more with the fact that we spend so much time/energy/money/effort manhandling and misappropriating the resources that He willingly gives us when we steward them well.

The world teaches us to have ZERO margin—to maximize efficiency and effectiveness by using every drop of energy/time/moment available to us.

And then we wonder why, when things don't go "according to our plans," why God doesn't answer us right away or give us what we need in that moment.

The tough truth of it is—He probably ALREADY gave you what you needed, and you used it up trying to do a bunch of stuff He never asked nor wanted you to do.

So I've been asking Jesus to change my perspective AND my heart on this.

I've been doing the things that God tells me are the most important FIRST (interestingly, these are the very things that the enemy tempts me to wait and procrastinate on...).

And I've been saying no to SO MANY THINGS that are distractions or drains on the natural assets God's already given me.

(Haven't identified your Primary Gift yet? Discover it today at growinyourgifts.com)

1. Honor God with Your First Fruits

The assets get allocated to what is important FIRST, even if there's something urgent demanding we give them up.

This isn't just about money; it's about time, energy, and attention. When we honor God with the first and best of all our produce—not just our financial wealth—we create the space for His abundance to flow.

Our tithes come out of our income first, no matter what the bills look like.

The prayers and quiet time with God comes first, even if the day is overloaded with to-dos.

The pause to check in with the Holy Spirit comes first, even if the world is pressuring for a fast answer.

This is the principle of first fruits — a divine invitation to trust that when we put God first in every area, He will ensure our barns are filled and our vats overflow.

2. Experience His "All of a Sudden"

And "all of a sudden"—

• There's more time to rest, restore, and connect.
• There's more money to allocate to "nice to haves" and not just needs.
• There's more energy in the afternoon and evening for family and friends.
• There's edited podcasts in the queue, ready to be published.
• There's space for reading and writing and creating.
• There's more stamina and strength and peace for the trials and tribulations that pop up.

This "all of a sudden" isn't magic; it's the natural overflow of honoring God with our first fruits.

It's His divine provision meeting our obedient stewardship, creating a spaciousness that the world cannot understand.

It's the tangible evidence that when we prioritize His Kingdom, all these things will be added to us.

3. Steward What He Has Already Given You

So here's my gentle, loving invitation to you:

Stop lying to yourself that you just need "more time/money/ energy/information."

Start asking God to show you the truth of how you're managing your assets He's already given you.

Stop praying for Him to show up and save you as you desperately try to coax your sputtering car to a gas station.

Start filling up the tank FIRST in case God decides to send you on a mission that day.

Focus on better stewardship of all the gifts that God has ALREADY given you, and watch what happens next.

See what His "all of a sudden" looks like when you've ALREADY created margin in the ways He designed us to do.

And most importantly—don't forget to thank Him for everything He's already blessed you with on this journey.

Because if you're still here and breathing—He's still got plans for you. ❤