Firstfruits

Why we take up a ‘Firstfruits Offering’

For many years, we as a fellowship have taken a special offering at the beginning of the year. 

We have called it a “New Year” offering or a “Firstfruit offering”. The term “firstfruit offering” is used because it proclaims the same truths as:

a) The very first offering mentioned in scripture. See Genesis 4:1-5, Cain brought a thoughtless, careless offering but Abel offered some of the firstborn of his flock. It was a choice, generous offering made in faith (Heb. 11:4). He gave his first and his best in recognition that all the productivity of the flock was from the Lord and all of it belonged to him. The Lord accepted Abel’s offering but not Cain’s.

b) The firstfruit giving of the people of Israel under the Law (see below). It too was an expression of confidence in God.

There is, however, one important difference between the firstfruit offerings given under the Law and what we who are of the New Covenant choose to take as an example for our giving.

Those who were under the first covenant were obliged to give the offerings prescribed in the Law. If they did not do so, they were transgressors of the Law and as transgressors would be under a curse (Galatians 3:10). The firstfruit was demanded of them.

We who have a relationship with God because of Jesus are under no such obligation. We give because we choose to, even when the giving is inspired by and follows the example of the Old Testament.

There is a truth presented again and again by the demands of the Law: the first and the best belongs to God – the firstborn son, the firstborn of the flocks and herds and the first of the harvests. We who have benefitted so much by his grace should gladly concur that he is worthy of our first and best.

Arriving at the Promised Land.

All the time the children of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land, they had divine provision (manna) and for 40 years it never failed. 

When they entered the land, they were to eat of the produce of the land and the manna ceased.

Leviticus 23:10,14: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest…. You must not eat bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live”

Firstfruit offerings were an integral part of their worship to the Lord.

The whole congregation of Israel came before the Lord at the Passover feast that commemorated their coming out of Egypt and a sheaf of the barley crop was waved before he Lord – the firstfruit of the harvest (Leviticus 23:4-14).

At the great Feast of Pentecost, two loaves of wheat bread were presented before the Lord – the firstfruit of the wheat harvest (Leviticus 23:15-20).

But it was not only the great congregational offerings that incorporated these elements. Each family presented to the Levites at their regular place of worship their own personal firstfruit offerings – oil, wine, wheat, corn, fruit (Numbers 18:12; 2 Chronicles 31:5). Note – the amount given was up to them.

In obeying their commands, the people were: 

• Honouring the Lord 
• Expressing their recognition of him as the one who owned all things and who had placed them in their inheritance – the land. 
• Securing the rest of the harvest, trusting God for its safe in-gathering and that there would be enough. The rest was sanctified and blessed of God because the first to be gathered in had been. 

Romans 11:16: “If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches”.

All of the children of Israel understood this principle. That is why Paul used it as an example in his teaching.

As we take up our firstfruit offering at the beginning of the year, what will we be expressing? 

• We will show our thanks to the Lord for his goodness to us in the past year, recognising his faithfulness and gracious provision. Has God been good to you? Then here is an opportunity to show your thanks. 
• We will acknowledge that all we have at our disposal is his. That “the earth is the Lord’s” (Psalm 24:1). We are but stewards and whatever we have we hold in trust. Kingdom living is offering the first and best of life to God in worship and using the rest in generous ways that honour God.
• We will demonstrate our trust in his provision for the year to come. Offering the first of all that we possess to God is an act of faith as it was for Abel and the children of Israel. It is a declaration of our trust in his ability to provide for our needs. As we give our first fruit offering, we are saying “I believe you Lord”. See also Matthew 6:19-34, especially vv. 31-33.

We are not farmers. 

We don’t plant fields or cultivate olives or vines. We work for employers who pay us a wage. Essentially, we “harvest” cash. So as we give, we are saying: “Lord, I offer this to you that my income this year will be sanctified – have your stamp on it”. Many have testified that as they have given to the Lord in this way, God has responded to their faith and trust – sometimes in remarkable ways. 

Giving in faith (see Hebrews 11:4).

At times, to give a firstfruit offering seems impossible or even foolish. God responds to us according to our hearts. See 1 Kings 17:10-15 and note verse 13: “Elijah said to her, Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son”

What a lesson we have there of God’s provision! “Ah” you say “but she had a promise from God”. SO DO YOU:

Proverbs 3:1,2, 9,10: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity….Honour the Lord with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing”

Will you make that a promise for you and your household? All the promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20).

Details of how and when to give your firstfruit offering will be provided at the beginning of each year. There will be opportunity to come forward as a family, as couples, or as an individual with the offering you have decided to give and one of the elders will receive your offering on behalf of the fellowship. They will pray with you and speak God’s blessing over you.

There is a further lesson for us from God’s instructions to Israel concerning  firstfruits.

All the Law and the Prophets reveal to us God’s great purpose for us in Christ. The risen Jesus talked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus:

Luke 24:27: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself”

Paul shows us the great truth bound up in the firstfruit offering:

1 Corinthians 15:20-24: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn; Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power”.

The children of Israel understood that the firstfruits being accepted and sanctified, the rest was safe and guaranteed. It was still in the fields, perhaps not fully ripened, not harvested yet but it was guaranteed because God had accepted the first cutting. They were parts of the same. 

Jesus risen from the dead is our pattern; we are part of him. 1 John 3:2: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” If he is raised, so shall we be; how he is raised, so will we be. See 1 Corinthians 15:42-49. Verse 49 ”…so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven”. Compare Philippians 3:20, 21 “…who…. will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body”.

This is more than a passing example that Paul plucked out of the air.

God so organised it that the day Jesus rose from the dead was the very day the priests in Jerusalem were waving the first of the barley harvest in the temple. All down the centuries of the Old Testament, whenever the sheaf of barley or corn was waved, God the Father saw Jesus.

On that wonderful first day of the week, God was no longer interested in what was taking place in the temple made with hands (Acts 7:48). That was but a shadow; the true had come (Hebrews 9:11, 24). God was now delighting in another firstfruit – his own dear Son risen from the dead and the first and best of a mighty harvest.

Revelation 1:5-8: “… and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”.

As we make our firstfruit offering, we are also making this declaration:

Job 19:25-27: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth; And after my skin has been destroyed, YET IN MY FLESH I WILL SEE GOD; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I and not another…”

IS JESUS YOUR REDEEMER? IF SO, YOU CAN SAY THE SAME AS JOB. PRAISE THE LORD!

All scriptures are from the New International Version.