“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” — Haggai 1:6
“The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.” — Job 20:28
When a believer holds back from giving God first place — whether in time, tithes, or obedience — his labor loses lasting reward. God told His people through Haggai that no matter how hard they worked, their blessings slipped away because His house was neglected. They had full hands but empty hearts. Job also reminds us that what is gained without God’s favor will not endure; it “flows away” like water through a sieve.
True prosperity comes only when we honor the Lord first. Anything kept back from Him eventually leaks out of our lives. When we put God’s house first, He fills the bag and seals it with His blessing.
Achan (Joshua 7)
Achan held back what God said to destroy. He kept a Babylonish garment, silver, and gold for himself. What he hid in the earth cost him everything — his family, his life, and Israel’s victory. Holding back from God always brings loss, never gain.
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11)
They pretended full surrender but secretly kept back part of the price. Their deceit cost them their lives. God still takes seriously when we claim devotion but hold back in our hearts.
When we give God only part of ourselves, He cannot bless the rest. Open your hand, surrender all, and you’ll find that what once slipped through your fingers now overflows with His supply.