I am moving away from the single topic of First Fruits to the general topic of biblical economics in today’s study. The First Fruits is one of the four key ways God has instructed us to give from his word. God wrote to us in Deuteronomy chapter twenty eight all the ways he wanted to bless his people financially. He started the chapter with the admonition that we should be careful to obey him in all the ways he has instructed. For most people who do not have an upbringing with biblical knowledge we do not know all the ways God wants us to participate in giving. When you put all the scriptures together on this topic they will fall into one of four different categories; The tithe, First Fruits, Offerings, and Alms. Most of us would think that giving any amount to any place would suffice as “giving to God.” But God is very specific on what to give. He even wrote down the key areas that we should give and what we should pray when we are obedient. Read the following scripture:

Deuteronomy 26:12-15 (NLT)
12 “Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.
13 Then you must declare in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, just as you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands.
14 I have not eaten any of it while in mourning; I have not handled it while I was ceremonially unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God and have done everything you commanded me.
15 Now look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you swore to our ancestors to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

God wants us to make sure the finances he has told us to set aside are actually given by taking them from our house and presenting them at his house. Then we are instructed to say to him in prayer, “I have obeyed you completely with my finances. I now ask that you allow me to possess my earthly inheritance in full.” Wow! What an incredible scripture. Next week I am going to discuss God’s heart for us in establishing his reason behind requesting we give in these different ways.We are continuing our fifty days of collecting the First Fruits offering. I hope these short teaching are equipping you to make a good decision about what you are presenting to God this year. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you from my heart.