First Fruits

First Fruits

Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV

“Hey Pam, our first strawberry of the season is ripe, it is time to pick it. Wait, why don’t you let Samantha pick it with you?”  I told Pam. Samantha, our 3 year old granddaughter, would be coming over later that night with her brother and dad.

“Great idea”, said Pam.  She and Samantha had been working in the garden recently planting flowers.  They have their own little plant that Samantha helps keep watered.

We took a couple of pictures as Samantha bent down to pick the berry.  Pam showed her how to twist the berry to keep the stem intact so not to damage the top of the berry.  Samantha grabbed the berry and then started to put it directly into her mouth.  She instinctively knew that the best taste sometimes comes straight from the plant.  Pam stopped her quickly and told her that we needed to wash it off first.

We went into the kitchen and washed it, then Pam returned the berry to Samantha.  She did not hesitate, but quickly put the whole berry including the stem into her mouth and began eating. A big smile came across her face as the sweet flavor of a fresh berry swirled around her mouth.  “Can we go outside and pick just ONE… more?”  She looked at her Pammaw with an innocence of belief that Pammaw could make this happen…but that was the only berry ripe at that moment. What to do? What to do?

God loves the intentionality of sharing our first fruits with him.  It’s a reminder to us that he really owns it all anyway.  He gives us the privilege of stewarding His possessions. Sharing opens our heart to the joys of generosity.  Generosity forms a shield against worry because it is an action of trust.  God loves a cheerful giver.  Is the grip of your hand over your “stuff” closed or open?  Freely receive, freely give.