Fresh StartSample

Giving Your First and Best

Have you ever had to share your favourite candy with a friend? You know that moment when you’re tempted to keep the biggest piece for yourself? Even if you do share, you might sneakily give them the smallest one. It’s a bit like how we sometimes approach tithing – hesitant to give our best.

This passage from Deuteronomy reminds us that God wants our first and best. Imagine being a farmer in ancient Israel. Harvest time wasn’t just one big event; it unfolded in stages. Not all the crops ripened at once. There was a period called the “initial yield”, when the very first crops were ready to be harvested, known as the “firstfruit”.

The firstfruit wasn’t just the first 10% of the harvest; it was literally the first portion ready. This could be nerve-wracking for a farmer. What if the rest of the crops don’t do well? That initial yield could represent a significant part of the entire harvest. Conversely, if the harvest is fantastic, that first yield becomes a smaller slice of a bigger pie.

So, how about you? Are you giving your “initial yield” to God? When you carve out time for Him, is it your best – focused and intentional? Or is it just a quick prayer at the end of a long day? And when payday arrives, do you set aside the first portion for God, or do you wait until after covering your bills?

God desires us to give Him our “first” and “best” because that’s how we truly make giving an act of worship. Take time today to reflect on what you might be holding back from God.