The Firstfruits

What is meant by the term firstfruits? To put it simply, “firstfruits” is a biblical term for the first of something. In Old Testament times, firstfruits were literally the first of a crop. Before the Israelites were able to keep and consume any of their crops, they were instructed to give to the Lord. Doing so was a demonstration of obedience and also of trust. Something terrible could very well have happened to the rest of their crop before they would get to harvest or use it. They were choosing to trust that God would continue to provide for their needs. This firstfruit principle was used for animals as well. The firstborn of an animal was to be given to the Lord. Again, this showed obedience and trust. Perhaps that animal would never give birth again. Firstborn sons were even to be given to the Lord! The cry of the Israelite’s heart was meant to be “everything I have belongs to you, Lord”.

What the firstfruits were NOT is leftovers. God did NOT say to the Israelites, “I will provide everything you need in abundance. When you have gotten enough, please give back to me whatever is left”. They did not give the runts of their animals to God, nor did they give God old animals that were way past their prime.  Their trust in God was to be demonstrated by giving FIRST and trusting in His abundant provision after the fact. His commandment to Israel was “You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.” (Exodus 22:29-30)

Here is a revelation for you. God didn’t need their firstfruits.  Let that sink in.  This is the same God that provided millions of Israelites with manna and quail. He provided them with water from a rock. This is the same God that fed thousands with a little bit of fish and bread. Twice. God was not asking the Israelites to give Him their firstfruits for any reason other than it kept them in remembrance of the fact that it was given to them by God in the first place.

 The practice of this obedience is what allowed the writer of Proverbs to say “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine”. (Proverbs 3:9-10) The Israelites were aware of the connection between giving freely of firstfruits and being able to trust that God would provide more than enough.

Let us apply this to life today. God still desires our firstfuits. We don’t all have crops and a farm full of animals. What we do have is money, time, gifts etc... This brings forth some questions we need to ask ourselves. Are we giving God the firstfruits of our finances? Are tithes and offerings on the top of our monthly budgets? Are they even on our monthly budgets? We are living in a society where it is easy to believe that the money we make is what is providing for our needs. Is your money running out before your month? The world says get another job…or maybe a better job. God says “give me your firstfruits and you will have plenty”.  How about our time? Is our quiet time with God the most important part of our day? Or is it put to the side to make room for more “pressing things” like putting in an extra hour at work, getting the kids to their latest extracurriculars, or getting that extra little sleep? The giftings that are given to us from God are also something that we can give the firstfruits of. Are we using our gifts for God? Are we using them for our own enjoyment or personal advancement? Are we using them at all?

 So what happens if we forsake God of our firstfruits and use them to serve our own purposes? Joshua 24:20 says to the Israelites, “If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good”. That’s scary. I’m thinking God has been showing that He is surely “slow to anger” based on the fact that we are all even still here.

Here is another revelation for you. God does not need your firstfruits. Let it sink in. This is the God that created the universe, the earth…and you! He is simply drawing out of you that recognition that He is your provider. By giving your firstfruits to God, you are acknowledging His provision for you. You are saying to Him, “Lord, I realize that everything I am and everything I have is from you”. God doesn’t want our leftovers. He doesn’t want us to give Him the extra money we managed to scrounge up at the end of the month. He wants us to show us that when we give him our firstfruits of finances we won’t have to scrounge up at the end of the month.   He wants to show us that when we give Him the first 30 minutes of our day, we seem to have an extra hour at the end. He wants to show us that when we use our giftings for Him, He will bless us with more giftings.

I can’t explain how it works. I know that obedience in the giving of firstfruits in this day and age isn’t a small step. It’s more like a large leap. I know what God says though. He says “try Me”.  Literally.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in my house,

And try Me now in this,”

Says the Lord of hosts,

“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such a blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

(Malachi 3:10)

With Love,

Mike