Firstfruits – Proverbs 3:9,10

The dictionary defines ‘first fruits’ as “the first agricultural produce of a season, especially when given as an offering to God.”  My giving is not agricultural produce but is still from the front end of my income.  I don’t wait to see what I have left over at the end of the month after bills, etc., then give that.  That doesn’t seem to honor the Lord.  My wife and I have sought to give ten percent of our income, and even more, and trusted God to enable us to live on what remains.  You know what, we have, and have done so with great blessing.

Honor the LORD with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)

We know from Ecclesiastes and from this collection of proverbs itself that there is no guarantee that one will get wealthy by following God’s wisdom, no guarantee that if you do become wealthy your riches will never depart, and certainly no guarantee that wealth will protect you from bad things in life, let alone death.  It becomes apparent the more you read Proverbs that this is not a collection of promises but rather of principles that normally hold true but that can always be pre-empted by the sovereign purposes of God.

Given that, the principle of honoring Yahweh with our income is supremely important and contrary to our own understanding about how to make our paths straight.  It makes more sense to us to hold on to what we earn as a way of hedging against trouble in the future.  The more I give away the more likely I might be left high and dry when I need resources to bolster my life.  And God doesn’t really need my money, does He?  But we’ve just been counseled not to lean on our own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all we do.

Though a tithe is not mentioned here, for Israelites this was a part of their covenant obligation to Yahweh.  Their tithe was used to support the poor and the Tabernacle and later the Temple ministers, the Levites and priests.  They were dedicated to this important service for Israel and could not easily make an income another way.  They were not given an inheritance in the land like the other tribes were.

But that is not mentioned here primarily because the real issue is honoring Yahweh.  Giving of the firstfruits of my produce, even before all my other harvest comes in, is my way of acknowledging that all my prosperity comes from Yahweh.  He is my wealth and plenty.  It did not primarily come because of my intelligence or even hard work.  Proverbs will counsel both of these and indicate that wealth comes as a result, but here the man of wisdom highlights the ultimate cause of wealth.  My intelligence and hard work are only possible because of God.  It would be shameful if I did not acknowledge that in this tangible way.