Friday, February 2, 2024

Are you familiar with the practice of firstfruits? This is a Jewish feast still celebrated in the spring, 50 days after Passover, at the beginning of the harvest season. The first portion of the harvest was used as an offering to God in the temple as a means of worship. As part of the feast, firstfruits were given by the attendees to honor God with their wealth.

Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV
⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

This practice increases the participant’s faith that God provides to multiply growth and to harvest what is lasting. That means that God increases you, so in return, you're able to use the blessings given to you to make a difference in the lives of others.

In Acts 2:1-4, we read that God unleashed the Holy Spirit on the Day of First Fruits (Pentecost) following the death of his first born Son. Jesus was his offering. And “by that one one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). Now instead of firstfruits, we participate in the practice of tithing.

We steward our finances to increase our faith in God's provision. Through the blessing of it all, God may not increase your earthly prosperity, but your relationship with him will grow through your faithfulness. Worshiping God through financial stewardship builds a firm foundation on him, leading you to trust him more. And as a result, you gain wisdom about the things that matter most. It's an investment with eternal returns.

Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

In making a difference, we are called to be wise about our financial responsibilities. First and foremost, seek God, building a financial foundation based on Biblical wisdom and trust that he will complete the work he has started in you. In response, you will begin to turn away from a scarcity mindset and toward trusting that God will provide.

Questions:
How can financial stewardship help to make a difference?

In what ways has God provided?

What mindset can you get stuck in?

Next Steps:
Commit to making regular financial contributions to church. If you’re already doing that, prayerfully consider a tithe, or more.

Start building $1000 in emergency savings if you don’t have it.

Join a Financial Peace University or Life, Money, Legacy Group or talk to a financial advisor.

Prayer:
God, I pray you would make more out of me. You do not promise prosperity, but you want to increase so that what you bless me with will be used for good. Whether I have a lot or a little I trust you will provide. Show me the next step to take to steward my finances. I surrender what belongs to you God and I am open handed to give you my firstfruits. I believe through your provision you will complete the work you have started. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

2 Peter 1:3
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

This post was written by Becca Roberts, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut devotional.