First Fruits

First 

(Psalm 90:12) “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 

(Genesis 4:2-5) “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.” 

First Fruits 

 God must be first. 

(Exodus 20:1-3) And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” 

(Deuteronomy 6:14-15) “Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.” 


 We put God first by giving Him the first of everything. 

(Leviticus 27:30) “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” 

(Deuteronomy 14:23 LB) “The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God in first place in your life.” 


 The first has the power to bless the rest. 


(Proverbs 3:6-10) “In all your ways acknowledge him…Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” 


The Order is Important 

1. Spend it. 

2. Use it to repay debts. 

3. Pay taxes. 

4. Save/invest it. 

5. Give it. 

(Matthew 6:24-33) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ʻWhat shall we eat?ʼ or ʻWhat shall we drink?ʼ or ʻWhat shall we wear?ʼ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”


The order is important.

Video
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/first-fruits

Discussion Guide
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/01-31-11.pdf

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands