firstfruit
Why firstfruits and how much?
When we give the first of our time and increase to the Lord, He blesses all the rest of our “lump” and unlocks our future. When we celebrate Firstfruits, we give “forward” for the whole month. You press toward what you have already honored Him with so that you can multiply when you get to your “there.” Firstfruits is giving into your future and enables you to keep pressing toward your finish line.
Leviticus 23:10
The concept of first fruits is rooted in biblical times when people lived in an agrarian society. Harvest time was significant because that was when the hard work the farmers had poured into their crops all year began to pay off. They were literally reaping what they sowed.
God called his people to bring the first yield—the first fruits—from their harvest to him as an offering. This was to demonstrate the Israelites’ obedience and reverence for God. It also showed that they trusted God to provide enough crops to feed their family.
The Hebrew word for first fruit is bikkurim—literally translated to “promise to come.” The Israelites saw these first fruits as an investment into their future. God told them that if they brought their first fruits to him, he would bless all that came afterward.
- We want to recognize His ownership of all that we possess.
- It is a deposit guaranteeing His blessings on the rest of our harvest.
We no longer live in an agrarian-based society. You likely don’t worry about harvest time or giving away the first yield of your crops. But the idea of first fruits is still relevant—it just takes on a new meaning for us.
First fruit offerings are typically an annual gift to the church done at “harvest time.” Because we’re not actually harvesting crops, the harvest can mean different things to different people. Perhaps you just got a bonus at work. Maybe you just received a huge tax refund check. Maybe you saved 15% or more on car insurance. Firstfruits are an offering to God of the increase in income that we receive. Specifically first fruits is the first portion of that increase.
Whenever you decide to make a first fruit offering, the important thing is that you do it freely, with no guilt or obligation. This is supposed to be a celebration of all that God has done for you. A first fruit offering is our opportunity to give above and beyond just a regular tithe.
