New Year

“First Fruits Giving”

“Living from Heaven’s perspective—w/ God all things

possible”
Proverbs 3:9- “Honor the Lord with your wealth; with the
first fruits of all your crops.”
“First Fruits” refers to the “first portion” given to
God. (i.e., giving Him our “first” and our “best”)

• The first fruits of their crops (Ex. 23)

• The first batch of dough as they were about
to make bread (Num. 15)
• The first fruits of their grain, wine, and oil; as
well as the first fleece of their sheep (Deut.
18)
• Their firstborn son (Ex. 13)
 First Fruits Giving was an expression of:
• GRATITUDE- acknowledging that everything comes from God
Psalm 89:11 (NIV)
11 The
heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
• DEDICATION- declaring: “This—and everything that follows—belongs to
You.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

• TRUST- expressing faith in His continued provision (NOTE: The

“Feast of First Fruits” was instituted when Israel was in the
wilderness— without land or crops—faith that He would lead
them into the Land of Promise)
We give to God but “Does God give us first fruit?

1 Corinthians 15:20-23(NIV)

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of

the dead comes also through a man.

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he

comes, those who belong to him.

New Year
 Firstfruits
Genesis 1
Blessed with fruitfulness; give back to
remember
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be

fruitful and increase in number; fill the

earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the
sea and the birds in the sky and over every
living creature that moves on the ground.”
 The Fruitful Life
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with

the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and

who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of

water, which yields its fruit in season and whose

leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
 Wisdom
Proverbs 1
Word and Spirit
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

6 for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of

knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
How do you live generously?
Matthew 6
1. Know who your audience is
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in
front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you
will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
How do you live generously?
Matthew 6
2. Know what your goal is
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures

on earth, where moths and vermin

destroy, and where thieves break in and
steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal. 21 For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
How do you live generously?
Matthew 6
3. Know who is in control
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what
you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the
body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the
air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you
not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one
of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?