First Fruits
A couple of years ago I was in a place where this concept scared me more than anything. Not because of what scripture tells us but in the way that I did not think I could afford giving my first fruits. What follows is simply my testimony of my journey thus far in this area. I write as someone who has not made it I am still trying to get this down. I hope it helps you.
First Fruits
What does this mean?
If you look back in Genesis 4 the first mention of the idea of first fruits is made. Cain and Abel in the well known story Cain kills his brother. But why? Well because Cain did not give his best to the Lord and Abel did. Seems pretty petty to kill someone over, I mean Cain still had his best, but what Cain lacked was favor scripture says.
Now if you read Malachi which is the last book in the old testament and if you do read the whole book in one sitting it makes more sense. Here you find God very upset because his people are not giving him their first fruits, the best they have. He tells them that they will suffer because of that and reap great judgement. It seems so backwards to me, if you keep your best, worse things will happen. Well it is not Gods plan for us to hang on to the best, that is for Him to manage.
Personally I have found this to be true. I remember not so long ago being very poor in finances, hardly able to get the things I do not think twice about today. But you know what I purposed to do was give my first to God. Not because of some rule I had to follow, but because of this principal that God is meant to have first. By Gods grace I have not known great suffering, what I have known is great fear. Great fear of financial ruin, lack of housing, ect. But you know what when I adopted this concept and ran with it I found my self no longer in fear but rather in peace. God handles my money, my housing, my livelihood.
You know fear means to have a "reverential awe". What are you in awe of? The hardships of life, the Mortgage, your family? Proverbs 1:7 says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom"
I challenge you to be in Awe of God and allow Him control of your first fruits.
-Nate
First Fruits
What does this mean?
If you look back in Genesis 4 the first mention of the idea of first fruits is made. Cain and Abel in the well known story Cain kills his brother. But why? Well because Cain did not give his best to the Lord and Abel did. Seems pretty petty to kill someone over, I mean Cain still had his best, but what Cain lacked was favor scripture says.
Now if you read Malachi which is the last book in the old testament and if you do read the whole book in one sitting it makes more sense. Here you find God very upset because his people are not giving him their first fruits, the best they have. He tells them that they will suffer because of that and reap great judgement. It seems so backwards to me, if you keep your best, worse things will happen. Well it is not Gods plan for us to hang on to the best, that is for Him to manage.
Personally I have found this to be true. I remember not so long ago being very poor in finances, hardly able to get the things I do not think twice about today. But you know what I purposed to do was give my first to God. Not because of some rule I had to follow, but because of this principal that God is meant to have first. By Gods grace I have not known great suffering, what I have known is great fear. Great fear of financial ruin, lack of housing, ect. But you know what when I adopted this concept and ran with it I found my self no longer in fear but rather in peace. God handles my money, my housing, my livelihood.
You know fear means to have a "reverential awe". What are you in awe of? The hardships of life, the Mortgage, your family? Proverbs 1:7 says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom"
I challenge you to be in Awe of God and allow Him control of your first fruits.
-Nate
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