Giving Our First Fruits
Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase. Proverbs 3:9
The hosts of heaven cry out, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11). It is our rightful duty to honor God as the Creator of the universe. The book of Proverbs tells us that we are to honor Him with our possessions. We have to recognize that we are not owners, but stewards of the wealth and substance that God has entrusted to us. God wants us to be good stewards. Good stewardship is the ability to manage the things God entrusts to us. Our stewardship is constantly being tested by the Lord. “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). Stewards must be faithful. One test of this is in the giving of the firstfruits.
“Firstfruits” (Gr. aparche) mean a beginning of sacrifice, or very literally, the first fruit. It is what you set apart at the beginning to be an offering to the Lord. The offering of the firstfruits is a representation of your relationship with God. If you love and honor Him, you would give your best to Him.
In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel came before God to honor Him with their possessions. Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord (Gen. 4:3). The offering he gave was not something that was precious or had signifi cant value. It was a portion of the excess fruit from his harvest. But Abel’s offering was different. It was the firstlings (firstfruits) of the flock—the best he had, and the fat thereof—the best of his best. Abel offered neither the lame, the lean, nor the rejected. He gave his best to God. Abel’s offering was accepted but Cain’s was rejected. Hence, everything that is for the name of the Lord must befit His Majesty—it must be the choicest of our possession. Whether it is material or immaterial, God should have the fi rst and best of our time, gifts, strength and service.
The firstfruits are also a representation of the entire harvest. If the firstfruits are sweet, the rest of the harvest is also sweet. If the firstfruits are bad, the rest of the harvest is going to be bad. Jesus Christ is known as the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:23). The resurrected Christ had a new, glorious and immortal body. We can have this hope that one day we too can partake of the same resurrection that Christ had—a new, glorious and immortal body.
So we see that God will never offer or do anything for us that is mediocre or second graded. God has never given anything to His children other than His very best. We must have this same kind of attitude. As stewards of His creation, let us be found faithful. Let us honor the Lord with the best of our possessions. Let us never compromise on the quality of our gifts to Him. “So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God” (10:31, AMP).
Similar Posts:
- The Fruits Of The Spirit
- Jesus’ Suffering For Our Sins
- Giving God Your Best
- Jesus Our Great High Priest
- The Fruits Of Repentance
Hi Pastor Kong, thanks for always being a blessing
I would like to ask you on tidings, first fruits belongs to God and also 10% of our monthly income
If I had been unfaithfull and I have not been giving my tidings
Should I track back how much I owe God or ask forgiveness and start being faithfull from thid month?
Thanks for your advice.
If you track back the money you owe God,if you owe God one thousand,bring your parent to Malaysia,if you owe God two thousands,bring your parent to Thailand,if you owe God four thousands bring your parent to China,If you owe God ten thousands,bring your parent to tour Europe,because your parent health cannot wait,than continue with the monthly 10% income to God,I think he will be very please.
Simi si test of stewards’ faithfulness is giving of the first fruits? Ani kuan means as long as got give money to church means we are faithful ahhhh? Your own poster got the other page say “If Christlikedness can be purely seen by outward actions/gestures, then the Pharisees of Jesus’ time must be more Christ-like than Jesus Christ Himself.” So giving to God is an outward action tio boh? In your church members must pay tithes with envelope and out name or not? If ai just drop inside offering bag can or not? And why kong lai kong hee poon si kong lui ahhh? Lee kong Let us honor the Lord with the best of our possessions si simi ee soo? Give money first if you love God si erm si? This emotional pressure chin koo eh tai chee lahhhh. Last time, people use transparent bag and pail to collect money so others can see how much you give. Mebbe you more stylo, must put name or use ATM? No wonder you say charismatic church can raise plenty money? Because ruler measuring your love of God is how much you give to church tio boh? Like dat is like other religions, not like Christianity. Other religions also say got credit when give money to own holy place right?
Ehhhh Richard, God knows your heart tio boh? Lidat, you know need ask Pastor also can? just ask God for forgiveness and move on. Better still read Bible, pray and God sure got give answer. Don’t worry God knows your heart lahhhh,, God loves a cheerful giver. Important is God know, man know is not important tio boh. Si ermm si, your relationship with God more important tio boh?
KONG HEE
BE BLESSED, AND GOD’S SPEED.
iamled – HIS CHILD
Thanks a lot for this post.
I in fact linked to this here: http://your-dailyword.blogspot.com/2009/11/honor-lord-with-your-firstfruits.html
God Bless you more!