Greeting Members and Friends
It time once again for our weekly Sunday School preview so thanks for joining me and welcome back. The Spring Quarter entitled “Acknowledging God” focuses on ways God’s people have acknowledged His Greatness. The May unit is entitled “Give Praise to God,” and has four sessions that emphasize the people’s response by bringing offerings and dedicating their lives to God’s work. Three of the responses are found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and 2 Corinthians. The unit concludes with one session drawn from the books of Psalms and Hebrews that rejoices in God’s reconciling action on behalf of the people.
Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Bringing First Fruits” or “Reasons to Give”. One of the stumbling stones to saving faith in Christ is giving. Whether it’s giving of time, resources, money, gifts or talents or in any other form, people fail to give because of lack of faith in God and selfishness. Bringing the First Fruits is like allowing someone to do something first before you do. For instance, wearing a new suit before you do, serving a meal or biting a sandwich before you, living in a new house or apartment before you do or holding a new born child before you do. You may have been entitled to do all these things first, but your love and honor for God is so great, that you always give that privilege to Him first.
This is what first fruits are all about. God is the one who has made everything possible for us to enjoy. First fruits are our way of saying thank you God for allowing me to have this. Not only do we honor God with these fruits before we partake of them ourselves, but we honor Him with only the best of them and never the second-hand or left overs. For God only the best will do. The text tells us how Israel was not to eat of their harvest until they brought a sheaf or bundle of what they gathered to the priest to offer it before the Lord. Likewise, we today should bring an offering of all our increase to the Lord as a way of acknowledging the role He had in making it possible.
The last verse in the lesson text reminds us not to use up everything on ourselves, but to think of others. We shouldn’t glean the corners of our fields or blessings. God instructed Israel to leave the corners unharvested so they would be easily accessible for others who may need the food. But we should always bring and give a blessing to those who may need it. When we give a mission offering or make a donation designed to help someone in need, it is a way of not gleaning our fields. In conclusion, don’t settle for nothing but giving God our first and very best before we enjoy any of what He gives us or allows us to have. If or when we do anything less, we have failed to understand the honor, glory and worthiness of God. Well, that’s all for this week’s preview. Be sure to join us in Sunday School this week for a fuller discussion of this lesson and the general topic of Give Praise to God. So, until then
Grace and peace
Pastor Jordan
