The Sowing of Firstfruits

Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD And whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.

For he will be [nourished] like a tree planted by the waters, That spreads out its roots by the river; And will not fear the heat when it comes; But its leaves will be green and moist. And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought Nor stop bearing fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thy increase.

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10) You shall also give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine [the first of the season], and your [olive] oil, and the first sheared fleece of your sheep.

For the LORD your God has chosen him, him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever.

Now if a Levite comes from any of your cities throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he wishes to [the sanctuary] the place which the LORD chooses;

And may serve in the name of the LORD his God like all the other Levites who do their work in the LORD's presence. (Deuteronomy 18:4-7) Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When you enter the land which I am giving you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.

He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that you may be accepted; the priest shall wave it on the day after the Sabbath. (Leviticus 23:10-11)

You shall bring the choice first fruits of your ground into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Behold, I am going to send an Angel before you to keep and guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. (Exodus 23:19-20) For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the word of God and prayer.

If you point out these instructions to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished [through study] on the words of the faith and of the good [Christian] doctrine which you have closely followed. (1 Timothy 4:4-6) Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return. (Luke 6:38)

In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.' (Acts 20:35)

Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].

And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

The desire of the lazy kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.

He craves all the day long [and does no work], But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has]. (Proverbs 21:25-27) So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.

But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy].

so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-4)

Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted]. (Matthew 5:3-4)