The First And The Best

The First and the Best

As you harvest your crops, bring of the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God.

Exodus 23:19

We promise to bring the first part of every harvest to the LORD’s Temple year after year—whether it be a crop from the soil or from our fruit trees.

Nehemiah 10:35

You must then say in the presence of the LORD your God . . . “And now, O LORD, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.”

Deuteronomy 26:5, 10

There’s usually an order to it when we give away things like food or clothes or money. First, we want to make sure we have enough for ourselves of whatever it is we’re giving away—enough to meet our own needs or wants. Then, when we figure we have enough, we’re willing to give away what we don’t need.

In the Old Testament, God’s people were asked to bring an offering of grain or fruit every year at harvesttime. This offering was called a firstfruits offering, because it was the first part of their crops. They gave to God even before they knew they would have enough for themselves. They were to bring to the Temple the very best of their harvest. But instead of waiting until the full harvest was collected and choosing from what was left over, they were to bring the very best of what was gathered first, before they even knew if more would be harvested. The firstfruits offering was a step of faith, a way of trusting God with their first and best. It was an expression of their belief that God would take care of them, whether the rest of the harvest was much or little.

God is pleased when we offer up to him our firstfruits—giving him the best of our days rather than only what we can squeeze in around other activities and appointments. He smiles when we give money for his causes right after we get paid instead of waiting to see if there’s anything left over after we take care of other expenses. These things show we really trust him to take care of us.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

When you have two of something and need to give one to someone else, do you tend to give away or keep the best one?

What sets a firstfruits offering apart from other kinds of offerings?

Paul wrote that “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20, NIV). What did he mean?