Every year, at the beginning of the year, in our Church we give our “First Fruit” offering to the Lord.

In Israel the feast of the First Fruit marked the beginning of the grain harvests. They were being asked by God to give a freewill offering (First Fruit) in proportion to the blessings God had given them through the harvest.

It was a time for them to express God’s blessings by giving the first harvest portion. They would discover that by their giving from their land that their own lives would be even more enriched. They had more than enough. Giving would not impoverish them; it would enrich them in many ways. They would see God’s hand at work among them when they first recognized God’s ownership and responded with thankfulness in their giving. Essentially, the first fruit is simply giving the first and best of what we receive to God.

We can see this principle of giving the first to God in Exodus 13:1-3 when immediately after coming out of Egypt, God tells Moses to tell the people to set apart, consecrate, and make Holy, the first-born. He says, “It’s mine.”

He claims every first thing. Why?

1. To remember that God is first in our lives. This speaks of priority.

2. To never forget that God brought us out of Egypt. He saved you from Pharaoh. It was God’s hand not yours.

In the same way we give the first things to remember, just as he saved Israel, he saved each one of us from the power of sin, from the world (Egypt) and from Satan (Pharaoh).

The analogy is most evident: God has brought us out of our Egypt, or sin, with even a greater power — the death and resurrection of God’s own First born! Therefore we too can bring our First Fruits to God in great thanksgiving for, as Paul puts it — “SO GREAT A SALVATION!”

A principle teaching of the first fruit offering was that a future harvest was promised - the first fruit were just a taste of what lay in store at the end of the full in-gathering of the harvest. Therefore, when a first fruit offering was brought before the Lord, it represented a prayer to Him to watch over the future harvest that was there foreshadowed by the minute proportion that was being presented. In ancient Israel, agriculture was the basis of the economy, and the nation’s wealth and welfare were tied to the land. If they obeyed God, there would be plenty of rain and an abundant harvest. If they disobeyed, they would fall short during the harvest. In the same manner, we give our first fruit offering understanding that from that, God will supply all of our needs throughout the year more abundantly than we can ask or think.

So, what are my FIRST FRUITS to God?

Well, first of all it is an offering, not our tithe. It could be your first paycheck from that new job; it could be a portion of that new paycheck most of us receive every week or two weeks. In Bible times it was the first lamb from each mother sheep —first cow, mule, etc. Our work, our business, the means by which we make a living to eat, for housing etc... This is the fruit of our labor. It is the first portion of our labor. The first fruit would be the first paycheck of the year or a portion thereof.

So, how much do I give?

Only God should reveal it to you. Ask Him — He will show an amount to you — Giving should be out of grace (I want to give) and not out of law (I have to give).

We give the seed and the seed will bear fruit. Out of the fruit we give the first fruit, which has more seed that brings forth greater fruit. When we give it’s not just for our benefit. Think about all the lives that get saved and are touched when we give to ministries that work in the gospel. Please understand, God does not forget the seed we sow. He knows how much we give and He has a record of when we give and with what attitude we give.

“Honor the lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine”! (Proverbs. 3:9-10).