The Ordinance of Firstfruits (Conclusion): Modern-Day Practical Applications

The Ordinance of Firstfruits (Conclusion): Modern-Day Practical Applications

The best of all firstfruits of any kind, and every sacrifice of any kind from all your sacrifices, shall be the priest’s; also you shall give to the priest the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. – Ezekiel 44:30

In conclusion of our meditation on the ordinance of firstfruits, we will discuss some practical applications of the precept in our non-agrarian modern society, where most of the increases we get are in the form of wages, salaries, revenue, and other monetary forms.

As we know, the people whom the ordinance was handed to were primarily farmers and herders, and the occupation they engaged in thus determined what they gave; in the case of farmers, they gave firstfruits, while herders offered the first animal that opened the womb of its mother. We have also established that offering the firstfruit or the firstborn is an honor to God and acknowledging Him as the Source of one’s increase. How, then, does this apply to someone who earns weekly or monthly incomes? Also, how can a corporate entity observing this ordinance offer it?

In the case of a wage earner, the firstfruit is to be given on the first income from the job, contract, or whatever you are doing that earns you such payment. Please note that the firstfruit is not the same as the tithe, which is 10% of your earnings. You can choose what percentage you wish to give as the firstfruit. Only you must observe two very fundamentals. First, you must pay the sum from the first earning before spending on anything else. Second, you must ensure that you always give the firstfruit from your earnings, either in January of the new year or the yearly anniversary of the source of income.

In the case of a corporate entity, the firstfuit must also be paid from the very first revenue of such entity and should be paid annually, either in January or the new calendar year of such the organization. Also, in the event the entity starts a new line of product, service or offering of any kind, it is advisable to give the first fruit from the first proceeds of such a new line. It must be emphasized, again, that the firstfruit is not the same as the tithe.

As we also established earlier, the firstfruit is essentially meant for God. However, it is one of those special offerings that God Himself ceded to the chief priest to consume on His behalf. Perhaps that is why there is confusion in some quarters that it must be given to the pastor. It is God’s in principle, but the priest’s in consumption.

Here are some more biblical references about the firstfruit ordinance. Please take time to study them: Leviticus 2:14, 2 Kings 4:42, 2 Chronicles 31:5, Nehemiah 10:35, Nehemiah 10:37, Nehemiah 12:44, Nehemiah 13:31, Jeremiah 2:3,

You Will Succeed in Jesus Name!

Also read:

• The Ordinance of Firstfruits (5): Who Should You Give it to? (Cont’d)
• Men in the Bible: the Men that Cover their Parent’s Shame
• Our Father’s House
• Moments of Grace… Moments of Love and Healing
• I Got a Cheque in the Mail!

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