FIRSTFRUITS FOR HIS FIRSTFRUITS
Every year the Israelites were to gather together in Jerusalem for three annual celebrations. The second of these religious festivals was called the Feast of Weeks. Seven weeks after they began to gather their harvest God’s people were to come to Jerusalem and sacrifice various offering, including an offering of “firstfruits” to the Lord. The firstfruits were to be the very best of the crops and the oil and the wine that the Israelites had been blessed with during the harvest - and so the firstfruits weren’t necessary first in time, but first in quality. It was a way in which the Israelites could show their love and appreciation for the Lord by giving back to him the best of what they had in proportion to the blessings he had given to them.
And although we don’t celebrate the Feast of Weeks anymore, we still give the Lord the firstfruits of our blessings today, don’t we? And the only reason we are moved to give the Lord our firstfruits is because the Lord has also given us the firstfruits of his blessings. We have been blessed this past year with more gifts than we could ever make use of, haven’t we? He has showered us with both physical and spiritual blessings, both in our own family and within our congregational family, both in our home towns and in our country. And all of his blessings have been good. In fact, they have been the best. We have once again received the firstfruits of God’s love in 2009 when there was no reason for him to even glance our way.
It’s exciting to live under God’s grace! You never know what blessing he will suddenly throw into your lap next! You can never predict what he will do through you or accomplish for you tomorrow! And it’s very important to remember that. It’s important to remember that the Lord is the one who produces all of these good things. The Lord is the one who is behind every success and achievement and accomplishment that we benefit from in our lives. We really can’t take credit for anything good that happens in this life - no matter how many people try to convince us otherwise.
“Wow, you made that? That’s impressive. It looks professionally done!” And we may try to deflect a compliment like that and attempt to make no big deal about it, but in the back of our minds we really like to think, “Ya know, it did turn out pretty well if I do say so myself. I guess I’m a little more talented that I thought I was. I surprise myself sometimes!” Or maybe a person comments on the nice life that you’ve made for yourself in your retirement; and it’s so tempting to think: “Well, I did put in a lot of grueling hours for quite a few years. I worked hard. I was smart with my money. I paid my dues. I suppose I have earned a little time to relax and enjoy the things I’ve been able to acquire for myself throughout life.” And sometimes it’s something as simple as looking back at the day gone by and reviewing all of the things that you’ve seemed to accomplished all on your own: “Let’s see: I got up early, did the laundry, made breakfast, exercised, fixed the faucet, wrote three letters, balanced the checkbook, called my neighbor, bought some groceries, cleaned the mess up in the garage, prepared supper, read my Bible… I got a lot of things done today! That’s not a bad day’s work!” And then we give ourselves that proverbial and well-deserved pat on the back before we lay our heads down on the pillow.
It’s not wrong to enjoy the blessings we receive, of course. In fact, we’re supposed to be happy about what we have and what gets done. But “Do not be deceived, my dear brothers,” the apostle James warns us. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” It’s OK to be glad about the blessings in this life; but it’s not OK to take any of the credit away from the one from whom these blessings come. We are inclined at times to put too much stock in our own abilities and our own hard work and our own determination and our own efforts instead of attributing every good thing to the Lord. How easily we forget that no matter how hard we work, no matter how much effort we put into something, no matter how many abilities we have, and no matter how determined we are to get it done, nothing good would ever happen if the Lord didn’t want it to. The only reason good things happen in our lives is because God gives his firstfruits to his firstfruits.
God gives the firstfruits of his blessings to the firstfruits of his creation - and that’s what we are. Again James reveals to us that, “He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” We are God’s firstfruits. We are the best of his creation. We are the most treasured and the most valuable of everything he has ever made because he has given us birth through the Word of Truth. He has made us believers through the gospel of Christ and his cross. He has made us a part of his family and has forgiven our sins through the water and Word of baptism. He has made us one with his own body and blood through the power of the Lord’s Supper. He has made us his own; and that means we are worth more to him than anything else in creation.
The most beautiful sunset known to man is no comparison to your beauty in the eyes of your God. The most magnificent mountain on this earth is a mere clod of dirt compared to the great heights to which the Lord has lifted you. The dark depths of the sea, the blinding brightness of the sun, the unreachable expanse of this boundless universe fades into the background compared to the glory and the splendor and the brilliance that the Lord has placed on you. There is nothing, nothing more precious to him than you are. You are his firstfruits. You are his greatest creation. He is proud to have made you. And he is even more thrilled to have saved you.
And so, of course, he gives the firstfruits of his creation the firstfruits of his blessings. He gives you nothing but the best. He gives you nothing other than what is for your good and for the good of those other believers around you. That doesn’t mean he gives you everything, of course! Good parents do not give their children everything they want even if money is of no issue. Good parents will give their children everything they need, everything they should have, and even many more things that will make their children happy. But sometimes that also means withholding various things from time to time. Good parents determine what is the best for those they love and they make their decisions accordingly.
Your God is the best parent of all. He is your heavenly “Father” for a reason. He gave you birth through the Word of Truth. He raised you up with the gospel in his own house. He supplies for your every need. You are very special to him. And so don’t be surprised when the blessings keep coming. He likes to make you happy! He likes to shower his children with gifts! But also don’t be depressed if the blessings seem to stop. Because first of all, the blessings never really stop; and second of all, whatever God your Father gives you is good enough. Really, whatever God your Father gives you is the best. It’s the firstfruits of his love. And if you always receive the firstfruits of God’s love, you can’t ever receive anything better. And the Lord isn’t going to give you anything less. We’ve seen that again in 2009. We’ll continue to see it in the years to come.
Amen.
“God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen” - Philippians 4:19-20
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