Ministry Minute

The Benefits and Blessings of First Fruits Giving

By Bishop John McCullough III

Most people seek to find some means that will cause them to develop, progress, and advance in life. Depending upon one’s values, vision, and spirituality as to the choices one chooses as the means to achieving and aspiring toward success.

There perhaps is not any one particular thing that one does that will help one achieve all goals. With education, natural intellect, and opportunities as well as many other aspects together, one can experience new levels of living. For those who are spirited there are methods of reaching out to forces and entities that are personal means of achievement.

While spirituality, religion, and man’s reaching outside of self is personal, there are many people who are guided by the principles and practices of the Bible. In it there is a plethora of directives for living and growing in every aspect of life.

As it relates to progressing, achieving, and advancing in life, those who adhere to the principles of the bible follow closely its instructions. There is a concept in the bible called first fruits giving. Jesse Wisnewski a writer and marketer for get.tithe.ly speaks to the advantage of believers in the words of the bible as a means for blessing, he states” The concept of first fruits is rooted in biblical times when people lived in an agrarian society. Harvest time was significant because that was when the hard work the farmers had poured into their crops all year began to pay off. They were literally reaping what they sowed.”

In the bible book of Leviticus 23:10, it states “When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priests.” Wisnewski states further,” God called His people to bring the first yield, the first fruits from their harvest to Him as an offering. This was to demonstrate the Israelites obedience and reverence for God. It also showed that they trusted God to provide enough crops to feed their family.”

The agrarian days are gone but the concepts and principles are still in place. Persons who look outside of themselves and seek the blessings of God for prosperity, advancement, and promotion still practice and participate in first fruit giving. According to another book of the bible, Proverbs, in the third chapter and verse nine it says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops” The promise of blessing comes in the next verse number ten, it states “Then He (God) will fill your barns with grain and your vats will overflow with good wine.” This speaks of the honor that one gives to God by giving will cause God to see that person as one worthy of favor.

Believers are in no way naive to think that by bringing first fruits to God there is a special magic that accompanies it. No, the wisdom is that one must continue to envision, pursue goals, and work by faith in order to continue to experience the blessings of God. First fruit giving is the response to God for all that He has done and promises to do.

In these days where it appears that people no longer have an honor and reverence for God, many people would see first fruit giving as a ridiculous practice. However, if one wants to continue operating in business, entrepreneurship, functioning in careers, leading families, and desiring to do so in success would do well to investigate the practice of first fruit giving.

There are blessings and benefits to this level of trust in God. Work hard, enjoy life and all that it has to offer. Continue to envision, pursue goals, and work by faith. But for added favor in your efforts invite the favor of God in by honoring Him with your first fruits. Watch God do it!