First Things First! “I’m changing my perspective on Giving. Teaching.

Your Better Life Now Podcast With Pastors A.L. & Lashelle Blue.

Matthew 6:33 New International Version (NIV)

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Proverbs 3:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.

• Intro:

What is first fruit?

“When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.” —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.

Back then, there were plenty of rules associated with making first fruit sacrifices. They had to be brought to the temple priests. No other crops could be harvested until after the first fruits were presented. It was a complex process.

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.

BLP: God told them that if they brought their first fruits to him, he would bless all that came afterword.

Since We no longer live in an agrarian-based society. Many of you are probably not farmers. 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. A new perspective.

What the Bible says about first fruits

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” —Proverbs 3:9

We see the term first fruits initially mentioned in the book of Exodus when Moses is leading God’s people out of captivity in Egypt. God instructed the Israelites to give up the first of their crops so that they could understand the value of God’s blessings.

Through the first five books of the Bible, Moses brings up the idea of a total of thirteen times. That’s because it was an essential concept for his people to understand. First fruits is mentioned throughout in the Bible, and it’s even referenced in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, the term first fruits takes on a symbolic meaning. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul mentions Christ as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Jesus was God’s first fruits—his one and only son, and the best that humanity had to offer. God gave Jesus up for us, in the same way that we sacrifice the best we have for him.

What’s the Difference between first fruits and tithing.

“The first of all first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests: you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house.” —Ezekiel 44:30

To give a tithe means that you give a tenth of your income to your church. Tithes are generally given throughout the entire year.

Tithes are meant to be given in an automatic sense --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/betterlifemovement/support