First Fruits
The first fruits are offered to God as acknowledgment of His blessing. They are different than the tithe in the sense that the word tithe represents a percentage value, while first fruits were offered in honor of God’s provision and bounty. In other words the tithe is ten percent of one’s increase and is measured numerically while first fruit originates from the very beginning of harvest or the male that opened the womb (firstborn). In order to be first fruit it would be offered before a person is even able to calculate their harvest and measure a tenth. This understanding of first fruit would signify to me that it is an offering of thanks to God our provider for His bounty or blessing. Note that would automatically infer an element of not only faithfulness but of faith toward God that He is worthy of honor regardless of what the rest of harvest season has in store.
First fruits therefore, would not only include money but a person could offer the first fruit of their time or any resource. For example the following text shows that Hannah who was barren until this point was desperate for a child so we see her in the temple praying to God and she makes a powerful promise to God if He would just provide her with a child:
1Sam 1:8-11 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
1 Sam 1: 24-28 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.
Notice that Hannah brought everything she would need in order to follow through with the customary redeeming of a firstborn male by the requirements of the law. Yet she also still honored her vow and “lent “ the boy Samuel to the Lord. We see no recording of her complaining or of her asking for more children but lets look at the incredible thing that happens when she comes one year to offer unto the Lord and bring clothing for young Samuel.
1 Sam 2:18-21; But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD.” Then they would go to their own home.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
What a powerful story of a woman offering of her first fruit and seeing the blessing of God unfold in her life! She did not release Samuel with the idea of getting the Lord to bless her with more children. She did it out of gratitude and honor. Without these two qualities as motivators for giving to God we miss the real idea of why we give the best to our provider.
I believe in honoring God not just in my life but with my life. While I would be the first to acknowledge my humanity I also believe that my lifestyle honors God in more ways than just money. Yes I said “just” money! The Book of Romans Ch. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. This is my first fruit goal that my entire life becomes a living sacrifice to my Lord and savior! The best time spent is the time I use to read of His word and to pray in His presence. God not only gets the first of our paychecks He gets the first of my love, my praise, and most of all my gratitude because even when I have failed Him painfully God has always been faithful to me!
The first fruits are offered to God as acknowledgment of His blessing. They are different than the tithe in the sense that the word tithe represents a percentage value, while first fruits were offered in honor of God’s provision and bounty. In other words the tithe is ten percent of one’s increase and is measured numerically while first fruit originates from the very beginning of harvest or the male that opened the womb (firstborn). In order to be first fruit it would be offered before a person is even able to calculate their harvest and measure a tenth. This understanding of first fruit would signify to me that it is an offering of thanks to God our provider for His bounty or blessing. Note that would automatically infer an element of not only faithfulness but of faith toward God that He is worthy of honor regardless of what the rest of harvest season has in store.
First fruits therefore, would not only include money but a person could offer the first fruit of their time or any resource. For example the following text shows that Hannah who was barren until this point was desperate for a child so we see her in the temple praying to God and she makes a powerful promise to God if He would just provide her with a child:
1Sam 1:8-11 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” 9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
1 Sam 1: 24-28 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.
Notice that Hannah brought everything she would need in order to follow through with the customary redeeming of a firstborn male by the requirements of the law. Yet she also still honored her vow and “lent “ the boy Samuel to the Lord. We see no recording of her complaining or of her asking for more children but lets look at the incredible thing that happens when she comes one year to offer unto the Lord and bring clothing for young Samuel.
1 Sam 2:18-21; But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the LORD.” Then they would go to their own home.
21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
What a powerful story of a woman offering of her first fruit and seeing the blessing of God unfold in her life! She did not release Samuel with the idea of getting the Lord to bless her with more children. She did it out of gratitude and honor. Without these two qualities as motivators for giving to God we miss the real idea of why we give the best to our provider.
I believe in honoring God not just in my life but with my life. While I would be the first to acknowledge my humanity I also believe that my lifestyle honors God in more ways than just money. Yes I said “just” money! The Book of Romans Ch. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. This is my first fruit goal that my entire life becomes a living sacrifice to my Lord and savior! The best time spent is the time I use to read of His word and to pray in His presence. God not only gets the first of our paychecks He gets the first of my love, my praise, and most of all my gratitude because even when I have failed Him painfully God has always been faithful to me!
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