“First Fruits”

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits

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

This is the time of year that we all stop and reflect about the year behind us and start thinking about the prospects of the one before us. It’s the time for New Year’s resolutions (and no I’m not even going there). There is an air of excitement, expectancy, and hopefulness as we all get a clean slate to start over no matter what mistakes we made the year before or trials we endured. There is someone who doesn’t want you to think that there is any possibility of making things better or getting the victory over circumstances or problems in your life. Don’t make the mistake of listening to his convincing whispers. It will only discourage you before you even get started. He doesn’t want you to succeed and most certainly doesn’t want you to succeed or grow spiritually. Immerse yourself in God’s Word and it will get easier and easier to detect and dispel Satan’s attacks.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:3

That brings me to my thought this week. First Fruits. They say that it takes about 21 days to develop a lasting pattern. We need to heed that information and use it to our advantage and God’s blessing on our lives. Let me encourage you and yes even maybe challenge you at the birth of this New Year to give a lot of thought to “your” first fruits.

“And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the Lord:”

Nehemiah 10:35

What are the things that get your first attention? Is it your job? Your house? Your children? Your hobbies or recreation? I challenge you this year to make it serving and pleasing the Lord FIRST. Sometimes even as Christians we get caught up in the thinking that this is all there is and we pursue sports, careers, acquiring more and more just as the rest of the world does. Be reminded that when you come to the end of your life, you won’t be wondering if you spent enough time working, playing or watching sports, or acquiring more things. You will be face to face with the sobering thought, “Oh, how I regret not serving the Lord more and living my life for Him.”

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

So think about your first fruits. The first fruits of your day. Do you spend it talking with the Lord and asking for His guidance for the rest of the day? The first fruits of your money. Do you rob God of your tithes and offerings and then arrogantly expect His blessing on your life? Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” (See, God said it Himself, I didn’t.) The first fruits of your time and talents. Do you give any of your time in furthering the Gospel or filling a need in your church or are you too busy with “other” things that won’t matter in the light of eternity? Only you can honestly answer these questions. It’s time for reflection and even more importantly inspection. Be honest because God already knows the true answers and you can’t fool a Holy God. Give your first fruits to the Lord today and every day this year.

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,

Who died upon the cruel tree?

To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary!

I know my Lord expects the best from me.

How many are the lost that I have lifted?

How many are the chained I’ve helped to

free?

I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,

When He has done so much for me?

The hours that I have wasted are so many

The hours I’ve spent for Christ so few;

Because of all my lack of love for Jesus,

I wonder if His heart is breaking too.

I wonder have I cared enough for others,

Or have I let them die alone?

I might have helped a wand’rer to the

Saviour,

The seed of precious Life I might have

sown.

No longer will I stay within the valley

I’ll climb to mountain heights above;

The world is dying now for want of

someone

To tell them of the Saviour’s matchless

love