THE FIRST FRUIT IS THE ROOT TO BEAR FRUIT!
Principles of finance have been put in place by God himself for two reasons. The first is to activate our obedience to Him and the second is to generate wealth to furnish the Kingdom of GOD.
As believers in Christ we practice a three fold giving which IS: First- fruits, Tithes and Offerings.
First: First Fruits and Tithes are separate from each other.
2 Chronicles 31: 5 As soon as the command went abroad, the Israelites gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, vintage fruit, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
Nehemiah 10: 37 And we shall bring the first and best of our coarse meal, our contributions, the fruit of all kinds of trees, of new wine, and of oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God. And we shall bring the tithes from our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, collect the tithes in all our rural towns.
Nehemiah 12:44. On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by law for the priests and the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served [faithfully].
When we accept Christ into our lives we need to understand that we leave behind a life of financial bondage and enter into financial prosperity and freedom. This ability and location is handed down to us by our Father himself but He has put certain principles in place for us to give heed to. These principles unlock financial prosperity and freedom that is due to us.
What is the First Fruit? It was the first of the cattle, corn, fruit and sons that was offered to God. This was the first of the entire harvest.
Exodus 22: 29-30 29 You shall not delay to bring to Me from the fullness [of your harvested grain] and the outflow [of your grape juiceand olive oil]; give Me the firstborn of your sons [or redeem them]. 30 Likewise shall you do with your oxen and your sheep. Seven days the firstborn [beast] shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
This was done according to the law but we are now living in a period of grace. You see although we are living in grace, the principles of God have not changed. There is an immense favour decreed over children of God that only God’s principles can unlock. Principles of wealth existed before the law, during the law, during the times of the prophets, during Christ’s time here on earth, during the times of the apostles and it still exists to date.
Children of God assessed their First-fruits in the following way:
Fourth year crop of a new tree was given to God. The entire crop was given to God; the people only partook of the fifth year’s crop.
Leviticus 19: 23–25 23 And when you come into the land and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count the fruit of them as inedible and forbidden to you for three years; it shall not be eaten 24 In the fourth year all their fruit shall be holy for giving praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat of the fruit [of the trees], that their produce may enrich you; I am the Lord your God.
First reaping in a new land, if you were to come into a land that Lord has given to you and dwelled there then the first crop was given to God.
Deuteronomy 26: 1-2. 26 When you have come into the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance and possess it and live in it, 2 You shall take some of the first of all the produce of the soil which you harvest from the land the Lord your God gives you and put it in a basket, and go to the place [the sanctuary] which the Lord your God has chosen as the abiding place for His Name [and His Presence].
First reaping in a new season, year by year the first-fruit was brought to the house of the Lord, to the priest who ministered there.
Before we assess our First-fruits; take note:
Our First-fruit giving; represents our whole year’s income. It represents 100%; we are saying to God I surrender my year’s income to you. It is showing God that He is greater than any amount of money. Please note I used the word represents. You don’t sow 100% but a potion that represents your whole year’s income.
How do we assess our first-fruits?
In this period grace seasons are declared, bringing in a first-fruit declares an apostolic season; it is declaring the fourth year. Know this; after the fourth year the people were able to reap themselves. So there is a leap in harvest reaping just by living out God’s principle.
Leviticus 19: 23-25. 23 And when you come into the land and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count the fruit of them as inedible and forbidden to you for three years; it shall not be eaten.24 In the fourth year all their fruit shall be holy for giving praise to the Lord.25 But in the fifth year you may eat of the fruit [of the trees], that their produce may enrich you; I am the Lord your God.
Anything new that generates wealth, some of the first income should be given to the Lord.
Examples of new is: A new job, a job promotion, a financial increase at work, a new business, a new business order, insurance payouts, inheritances, if you were to sell your car, house or belongings.
Deuteronomy 26:1-2. 26 When you have come into the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance and possess it and live in it, 2 You shall take some of the first of all the produce of the soil which you harvest from the land the Lord your God gives you and put it in a basket, and go to the place [the sanctuary] which the Lord your God has chosen as the abiding place for His Name [and His Presence].
Year by year we bring in a portion of our first income to the Lord as a representation of the whole years income. This is all income, example first salary, first profit, first sale commission, first weeks pay, etc.
Calculation:
Leviticus 23: 10-11 “When ye be come into the land which I give unto you and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.”
The Lord asks that we bring a sheaf (a bundle of grain tied together) of our harvest; our harvest is our entire first income.A sheaf is a bundle of grain, a stack of grain is made up of many sheaves. Note the crop is only harvested when it is at its best, so the sheaf will also always be the best.
In preparing our first-fruit we must ensure, at all times, that it is, the best that we can offer to God. To some it may be a week’s salary. To some it may be a week’s profit, but at all times it must be our best.
A day’s salary is also a bundle and so to is a week’s salary. They all represent the full harvest, which is; your full year’s income.
Remember God builds you up to accuracy but He simply loves your obedience. I strongly believe that releasing a day’s salary as a first-fruit activates the first-fruit principle, because a day is also a sheaf but if your best is a day this year, your best can be more than a day next year.
As the years of prosperity increase our sowing should increase also to one full week and ultimately sow a full month; this is the entire month’s harvest. Simply because we are living in a period of grace and the grace bestowed upon us is unlimited.
Calculation for businesses
Now I was asked this question several times: How do I calculate my First fruits as a business? There are different types of businesses which generate income at different times in the month.
Your first profit drawn is your first harvest, now some people draw at the end of the week and others at the end of the month. That entire profit is your first harvest and you need to bring a sheaf of that harvest to the house of the Lord. Remember this is separate from your tithe. A days profit is a sheaf, and so to is a week’s profit; you decide.
Calculation Examples:
If you are earning 4000.00 a month.
A day’s salary will be 200.00; a week’s salary will be 1000.00.
If you bring a profit of 10 000. 00 a month.
A day’s profit will be 500.00; a week’s will be 2500.00
The whom is the First Fruit given?
Now at this point we need to understand the manner in which God operates. The many that are called get separated from the few that are chosen. You see the first fruit was given to the priest of the temple, in our case it would be to our Pastor or Apostle of KBCM.
Deuteronomy 18:3-5 3 And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first or best of the fleece of your sheep you shall give the priest. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name [and presence] of the Lord, him and his sons forever.
Ezekiel 44:30. And the first of all the firstfruits of all kinds, and every offering of all kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests. You shall also give to the priest the first of your coarse meal and bread dough, that a blessing may rest on your house.
Nehemiah 10:35-36 35 And [we obligate ourselves] to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the first of all the fruit of all trees year by year to the house of the Lord, 36 As well as the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as is written in the Law, and the firstlings of our herds and flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in [His] house.
Leviticus 23:10-11 10 Tell the Israelites, When you have come into the land I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, that you may be accepted; on the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it [before the Lord].
Why Do We Bring in a First-Fruit?
The main purpose is to honour God. The Lord has brought us into this location that allows us to enjoy the reaping of many harvests and we therefore need to honour God for this.
Obeying this principle ensures that our entire year’s income is kept holy and protected. We tell God that He is far greater to us than any amount of money. When we do radical things for God, He does radical things right back at us.
Proverbs 3:9-10. 9 Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;10 So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.
Romans 11:16 16 Now if the first handful of dough offered as the firstfruits [Abraham and the patriarchs] is consecrated (holy), so is the whole mass [the nation of Israel]; and if the root [Abraham] is consecrated (holy), so are the branches.
Some Benefits of bringing in a First Fruit
Abundance. Proverbs 3:9-10
Blessing Will Rest in your House. Ezekiel 44:39
Ensures that your finances to come, is Holy. Romans 11:16
Substance (the widow never ran out)1 King 17:10-16