Firstfruits

On the first Sunday after Easter, we heard the apostle Paul teach us about the resurrection of the dead in his great resurrection chapter in 1 Corinthians 15. He wrote, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Pastor Zarling explained these “firstfruits” this way in his sermon: “Soon you will be planting your peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers in your garden. The best part of those vegetables is that once you pick the first ones and wait a little while, you’ll be able to pick more. Jesus is the firstfruits from the dead. He is the first of the resurrection crop. You and I and all believers will come later.”

The Bible also uses this term “firstfruits” to describe the stewardship of our gifts.

You know this from experience – it takes no brains to be an impulse spender. Advertisers and marketing people study your behavior, your preferences, and your life patterns to determine best when to jump you with their seductive spending come-ons. Food shopping, for instance, is no longer just food shopping. You are bombarded with marketing messages from the moment you drive into the parking lot, from the huge window signs to the hanging TV sets chattering at nobody to the point-of-purchase displays surrounding you as your cart crawls forward to the checkout clerk.

Your giving to God is different than impulse buys. Your giving to your heavenly Father in your weekly offerings is to come not only from a passionate heart but also from a brain that plans. “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9,10).

Do you get the point? 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.

We give to Jesus the firstfruits of our wealth. He is to receive the first of our material crop. You and I come later. We should be fine with the leftovers.

But, then, with our God, there are no such things as leftovers. He blesses us with more spiritual and material gifts than we could ever imagine!  

- Epiphany Stewardship Committee

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