Word of the Week - First Fruits
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the Firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
Personal Experience - This year I am celebrating my 20th anniversary as a follower of Christ; it was right at 20 years ago that I made a decision to surrender my heart and life to the Lord, and it has by far been the most meaningful and impactful decision of my life to date. That being said, I am currently working on writing my first book that I hope to complete this fall. I have felt led to write a book on Heritage Living – building a godly Heritage for a lasting legacy from a biblical perspective and what I have learned and experienced over the past 20 years as it relates to this topic. I recently spent a few days at my lake house with my friend Jordan Loftis www.storychorus.com who is helping me with the book. As Jordan was guiding me through the process, I was able to reflect and share with him what God has done over the past 20 years and the impact it has had on my life, especially on my family, friends and others. It was really encouraging to me to recognize and celebrate the amazing work that God has done and continues to do in me and how He has allowed me to be part of so many fruitful things He is doing. I am so grateful to God as I really feel like my barns are filled to overflowing and my vats are brimming over with new wine. I am pretty sure this is the abundant life the bible talks about in John 10:10. “The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy; but I have come so that you may experience the abundant life”. If I had to boil it all down to one thing it would be the principal of “First Fruits” and making my abiding relationship with God the top priority in my life each and every day. “I am the vine and you are the branches, if you abide in me, I will abide in you and you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. John 15:5
First Fruits - I love the principle of First Fruits because it is so clear and easy to understand. There are many things about God and our walk of faith that are mystical, and at times, hard for us to understand. The principal of First Fruits is very straightforward, God simply wants to be the priority in our lives and He wants us to honor Him by giving Him our First and best. He loves us so much that He is jealous for our love and attention and does not want to compete for the top position in our lives. He will not take second position. This concept is emphasized throughout scripture beginning with the 1st Commandment that states “You shall have no other gods before me”, He simply wants us to put Him First above all things. With divine order comes diving blessing, this is God’s economy. He is our Creator and the God of the universe, He deserves and desires to be revered and honored for who He really is and the authority and power He possesses. I love this principal because it is a tangible way to love and honor the Lord. This principal not only pertains to our money/resources but to every aspect of our lives, He desires the first of our time, our thoughts, and our pursuits. He wants to be the first in our day, week, month and year. For God, order is the priority over quality and quantity. There is amazing power, both blessings and protection, in the simple daily act of making God First. I encourage you to test the Lord in the principal of First Fruits. Put the Lord First and watch your time and resources multiply and overflow. Seek “First” the Kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
I recently completed a book by Bruce Wilkinson call “Secrets of the Vine” – Breaking Through to Abundance. It was an amazing book that confirmed my experience and reignited my passion on this topic. I plan to share a few of the key principals and mindsets from the book on abiding over the next week or two. I hope this blesses you as much as it has blessed me.