Numbers 28:26-31: a reflection

26“‘Also in the day of the first fruits, when you offer a new meal offering to the LORD in your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work; 27but you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; 28and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for each bull, two tenths for the one ram, 29one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; 30and one male goat, to make atonement for you. 31Besides the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, you shall offer them and their drink offerings. See that they are without defect.

Among the appointed feasts is the day of firstfruits, when the people were to bring a new offering to God from the first of their harvest. Before they enjoyed the harvest themselves, they were to bring the firstfruits, the first and best of what they had received, to God. It was an act of thanksgiving, acknowledging that the harvest came from God, and of trust, giving the first portion to him before securing their own.

Notice the principle of firstfruits: giving God the first of what we receive, before taking our own. The people did not first take their fill and then, from what was left, give God something; they brought the firstfruits, the first of the harvest, to God before enjoying it themselves. This was both thanksgiving, acknowledging the harvest as God's gift, and trust, giving the first portion to God before securing their own supply. To give the firstfruits was to put God first, in gratitude and trust.

That principle of firstfruits, giving God the first of what we receive, is worth taking to heart. We can be tempted to take our own fill first, and give God, if anything, from what is left over. But the firstfruits were given to God first, before the people took their own; an act of thanksgiving and trust that put God first. When you receive, whether income, time, or other gifts, consider giving God the firstfruits, the first and best, before taking your own, rather than giving him only leftovers. To give God the firstfruits is to acknowledge, in gratitude, that what you have received is his gift, and to trust him, in giving the first portion before securing your own. Put God first with your firstfruits, giving him the first of what you receive, as an act of thanksgiving and trust, rather than taking your own fill first and giving God only what is left; for the firstfruits, the first and best given to God, honor him as the giver and express a trust that puts him first.

Lord, among the appointed feasts was the day of firstfruits, when the people were to bring a new offering to you from the first of their harvest; before enjoying the harvest themselves, they were to bring the firstfruits, the first and best, to you, in thanksgiving and trust. Show me the principle of firstfruits: giving you the first of what I receive, before taking my own. The people did not first take their fill and then give you leftovers; they brought the firstfruits to you before enjoying the harvest themselves, acknowledging it as your gift, and trusting you in giving the first portion before securing their own. Take that principle to my heart. I can be tempted to take my own fill first, and give you, if anything, from what is left over. But the firstfruits were given to you first, an act of thanksgiving and trust that put you first. When I receive, whether income, time, or other gifts, help me consider giving you the firstfruits, the first and best, before taking my own, rather than giving you only leftovers. To give you the firstfruits is to acknowledge, in gratitude, that what I have received is your gift, and to trust you in giving the first portion before securing my own. Help me put you first with my firstfruits, Lord, giving you the first of what I receive, as an act of thanksgiving and trust, rather than giving you only what is left. Help me give you the first and best.