What other scriptures highlight the significance of giving God our first and best? Honoring God with the First of What He Provides Numbers 15:20: “From the first of your dough you are to present an offering to the LORD throughout your generations.” Early Footprints: Genesis to Deuteronomy • Genesis 4:4 – Abel “brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” • Exodus 13:2 – “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male… it belongs to Me.” • Exodus 23:19 – “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.” • Leviticus 23:10 – “Bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest.” • Numbers 18:12 – “All the finest new wine and grain they give to the LORD as the firstfruits… I give to you.” • Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (summary) – Israelites recite God’s saving acts while handing Him the firstfruits, linking giving with gratitude and testimony. Wisdom Literature: Heart over Habit • Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty.” • Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 – The call to “cast your bread upon the waters” underlines trust: generosity precedes security, not vice-versa. Prophetic Voices: When the Best Is Withheld • 2 Chronicles 31:5 – Hezekiah’s reforms: “the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits… a tithe of everything.” Blessing follows renewed obedience. • Nehemiah 10:35-37 – Post-exile covenant: firstfruits, firstborn, and tithes reinstated to keep worship central. • Ezekiel 44:30 – “The best of all the firstfruits… so that a blessing may rest on your household.” • Malachi 1:8 – Offering blemished animals dishonors God. • Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse… see if I will not open the windows of heaven.” New-Testament Echoes: Whole-Life Firstfruits • Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” • Romans 12:1 – “present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Entire life becomes the first and best. • 1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion…” Systematic, priority giving. • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – Generous, cheerful sowing brings abundant harvest. • James 1:18 – “He chose to give us birth… that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.” Believers themselves are God’s consecrated firstfruits. Threading It Together • From Abel to the apostles, God claims the first and best—firstborn, firstfruits, heart, and life. • Giving first expresses trust: provision comes from Him, so He is honored before needs are tallied. • Giving best expresses worship: only what is unblemished mirrors His own holy character. • Obedience invites blessing—not payment for giving, but the overflow of relationship with a generous Father. |
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