As
we enter into the New Year, many of us are hearing teachings about offering our
first fruits unto God. It is a Biblical principle in the Old Testament that
occurred when God’s people brought the first of their increase to dedicate to
the Lord. It is still practiced around the world.
While
we live in the dispensation of grace, we attract God’s favor when we live by
His principles. God is pleased when we honor him with a portion of the blessings He bestows upon us. In the early eighties,
when I lived in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, poor villagers would bring a
bag of rice or vegetables from the increase of the field. Frequently, they also
brought live animals to offer unto the Lord. In the Bible days, and in many
parts of the world today, agriculture is still the main occupation, therefore;
it is fitting for them to honor God in this way.
What
about those of us who live in the West? What does the Bible say about first
fruits offerings? It is wise for us to remember that everything we have belongs
to God. Without His blessings and Him giving us the ability, we have nothing to
show for in life. God doesn’t need anything from us. He flung the heavens with stars
in galaxies. He paves the streets of heaven with gold. What then can we give to
God to honor Him?
Give God your time. We can make more of everything else
but none of us can buy more time. When we get up each day and tithe our time,
it gives Him great pleasure. "Martha,
Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many
things, but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is
better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV).
Nothing can equal our time sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from Him. When
we give God our time at the beginning of the day, He will add favor and success
to everything we touch throughout the day. When we honor God with our time, He
can’t wait to send angels our way with special
deliveries to prosper us.
Give God your first thoughts. Our thoughts precede our words and
our words determine our actions. Every morning when I wake up I say, “Thank you Lord for this day. I bless your
Name. Something goooood is going to happen to me today. Bring me not into
temptation but deliver me from evil.” Many people wake up with a defeated
thought. If we’re not careful, our wrong thinking can eat the best of our day.
How we train our minds to think the thoughts of God will determine the quality
of our lives on earth. Bad news is everywhere. We wake up to it on social
media, newspaper, TV, internet, even at work co-workers announce it to us. I’m
all for keeping in touch with what’s going on in the world but let’s guard ourselves
from rehashing the negative news playing in our minds. Let’s offer our first
thoughts to God so He can permeate our day with His blessings.
Dedicate your firstborn to God. Of course, we’ll do good to dedicate
all our children to serve the Lord. But there is a special power released when
we offer our firstborn to the Almighty. Often, as it goes with the first child, so it goes with the rest. No matter how grown up our
oldest may be, we can still pray for them and impact their lives for the
best.
Put God first in everything. Our first fruit offering involving
our finances can set the tone of our increase for the year. I speak this from
experience – if you can prove to God that He can trust you with the little you
have now, He will make you the ruler over much! God
doesn’t need our finances. He owns it all. Having a generous spirit protects us
from self-destruction. You’ll never be poor giving stuff away. Sow where you
want to go. When we honor God with the first fruits of our lives, He has
promised to make the rest of it better than what we could have ever imagined. I’m
praying for you and your increase. I believe and declare 2015 will be an
explosive year of growth for you!
“Give, and it will be given to you. A
good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured
into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38 NIV).
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