FIRST- FRUIT FOR GOD

First Fruits are a religious offering of the first agricultural produce of the harvest. In classical Greek, Roman, Hebrew and Christian religions, the first fruits were given to priests to offer to God.

The first fruit offering is to God a way of demonstrating the principle of putting Him first in all things. It shows the act of loving the Lord with all of your heart, soul and mind. [Matthew 22:32-38]. The first fruit simply refers to the initial or the first harvest of one’s labour and does not necessarily refer to agricultural produce, but whatsoever benefits come to us as a result of our labour or service rendered. 

New Living Translation
Honour the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.
King James Bible
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Honour the LORD with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; 
COMMAND     Exodus 22:29
"Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. "You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
Exodus 23:19
"Bring the best of the Firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.
Deuteronomy 26:2
take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name

PLACE : WHERE DO YOU TAKE THE FIRST- FRUIT TO?
It is to be taken to the house of God ( Deut 26: 1-4) Not just any one in the house of God is to receive it, only the priest could receive it. ( Neh 10: 35 – 37) The Priest ( Pastor) receives it and proclaims the blessing upon you ( Eze 44: 30)

 Deuteronomy 26:2-4    Leviticus 23:10-14     You shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there.  
EXAMPLE
2 Chronicles 31:21
In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

In the New Testament,“the firstfruits of Achaia” (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15).

James calls believers “a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). Just like the sheaf of grain was set apart for the Lord, so are believers set apart for God’s glory.

 Jesus. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

ORIGIN OF FIRST FRUITS
The First Fruit existed before the law (the Old Covenant). Abel brought to God the firstlings of his flock and of the fat portions and the Bible says God had respect and regard for Abel and his offering. [Gen 4: 3-4]

QUALITIES OF THE FIRST FRUIT
It is holy and consecrated unto God. [Rom 11: 16]. For anything to be presented to God, it has to be sanctified that be presented through the Holy Spirit. Pray over your first fruit, speak God’s word concerning it before presenting it to God [Rom 15: 16] It is the best quality [Num 18:12 - 13]. In Genesis 4: 3 - 5, God rejected Cain’s offering because it was not the best quality of what he got. God is concerned about the quality of your First Fruit (Deut 15: 19 – 22 ) It is given in whole, not in parts. It is compulsory for you to bring in everything, you are not to take from it [Deut 26: 2] It is brought in without delay. Don’t postpone giving of your First Fruit. [Ex 22: 29] It brought in with an attitude of thanksgiving; for God loves a cheerful and prompt to do it giver, whose heart is in his giving. [II Cor 9;7; Deut 26: 10 – 11]

 

WAYS OF GIVING FIRST FRUITS
1. New Job: First salary package
2. New Year: First salary or first income ( for those who don’t earn a salary)
3. Old Job (Promotions) – Increase i.e. the difference between the old and new salary. (If your heart condemns you go ahead and give all. He is looking for something to multiply back to you).

For example, a businessperson may give first fruit offerings severally, every time he experiences an increase or receives new goods.

WHY WE GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS? (THE BENEFITS)
We are commanded to give it [Prov 3: 9-10, Ex 22: 29] By giving your first fruit, you secure and sanctify the rest of your fruits ( Rom 11: 16) We give our first fruits that the blessing of God may rest upon us ( Eze 44:30)

By giving it, you demonstrate your appreciation for God and the things He has done in your life (Deut 26:10 – 11) It releases the anointing upon your life. The bible says thy presses shall burst out with new wine. New wine symbolizes the anointing ( Prov 3:9) God is delighted in our obedience to His word; for it is better to obey than to sacrifice [I Sam 15: 22]

Anyone who holds back his First Fruit exposes himself to evil. As God said to Israel. [Jeremiah 2: 3]

Psalm 144:13
Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields;
Proverbs 11:25
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

CONCLUSION

Your Giving establishes your righteousness.  It is an act of faith. Therefore bring in your First Fruit with joy and thanksgiving; Give it celebrating and have an expectation when you have acted on the word of God.