What do you mean by “firstfruits”?

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.” - Proverbs 3:9-10

When we talk about giving, we often use the word “firstfruits,” but many people may not fully understand what it means.  In a farming society (like that of Bible times), people depended heavily on the harvest.  If the harvest was poor, the year would be a hungry one.  If the harvest was good, they might be able to put some away for a bad year.  How would you react if your very life depended on the harvest?

I suspect we might be reluctant to give any of it away.  After all, what if there isn’t enough?  What if next year is worse?  Especially, if I give away the very first part that I bring in, what if something happens (hail, flood, pillage) to the rest before I can gather it?  We would want to save everything we could until we were certain that we were safe.

God knew that, but He commanded the Israelites to demonstrate their trust in Him.  After all, if He could give them the first bushel of wheat, then He could provide them with the next nine bushels too.  He promised that their barns would be filled to overflowing.

God commanded the Israelites to give Him the firstfruits of their harvest so that they would learn to trust Him and so that they would show all of the people around them who was most important in their lives, and who was the true God who provided their daily bread.

Few of us are farmers today, and a modern farmer’s income is not often dependent on a single crop.  Yet, we still receive blessings from God – both physical and spiritual, and God still wants us to realize where our blessings have come from.  He still wants us to show that we trust in Him for all we need.  He still asks for our firstfruits.

Today the harvest of your work may come every Friday, or once or twice a month.  Regardless of your income source or level, God still asks you to take from what you have been given and give back.  God used words like “overflowing” and “brim over" to describe His generosity to us.  He expects you to use His gifts to you to give glory to Him.

So let your gifts to your heavenly Father come not only from a passionate heart that is grateful for food, clothing, forgiveness and salvation, but also from a brain that plans. When you set aside God’s portion first, two things happen: first, you show that God really is #1 in your life, worthy not of occasional leftovers but worthy of top billing; second, you can expect that a delighted God will bless you back with his spiritual and material gifts so that you can give again.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You provided the Israelites with food for hundreds of years, even though they often did not trust in You.  You have given me my daily bread faithfully for all my life, even when I have not responded gratefully to You.  Lord, help me to give to You my firstfruits and to trust that You will provide me with the lastfruits and all of the fruitful blessings that I require.  My life is in Your hands.  Amen.

                         - Epiphany’s Stewardship Committee