TOPIC: HONOUR GOD WITH YOUR FIRSTFRUIT
MEMORISE: Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Proverbs 3:9
READ: Genesis 4:1-6
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
MESSAGE:
A firstfruit is the first income or harvest that you receive in a year.
It could be your first gift, salary, commission, et cetera.
In various African cultures, especially amongst the Yoruba tribe in the western part of Nigeria, a fellow’s first income doesn’t belong to him or her.
It is a norm that the first harvest goes to the gods or the king of the land, while amongst the more sophisticated ones, their first salary goes to their parents for blessings.
These are done to get blessings that will bring further increase to their jobs or farms.
This is what God also requires from us as we read in today’s memory verse.
Honouring God with your firstfruits is another way of asking Him to bless whatever will be coming to you in the remaining part of the year.
Abel gave his best and choicest animals to God as his firstfruit, and God was pleased with him.
Solomon also gave God his best, and God visited him (1 Kings 3:3-14).
Beloved, giving God your firstfruit shows that you are grateful for His blessing. It is also a way of declaring that He is your top priority.
KEY POINT:
God will honour those who honour Him with their firstfruit.
HYMN 46:
O LORD MY GOD WHEN I’M IN AWESOME WONDER
O Lord My God,
When I In Awesome Wonder,
Consider All The Worlds Thy Hands Hath Made
I See The Stars,
I Hear The Rolling Thunder,
Thy Pow’r Thro’out
The Universe Displayed:
Refrain:
Then Sings My Soul,
My Saviour God To Thee;
How Great Thou Art!
How Great Thou Art!
Then Sings My Soul,
My Saviour God To Thee;
How Great Thou Art!
How Great Thou Art!
When Through The Woods
And Forest Glades I Wander,
And Hear The Birds
Sing Sweetly In The Trees;
When I Look Down
From Lofty Mountain Grandeur
And Hear The Brook
And Feel The Gentle Breeze;
And When I Think
That God, His Son Not Sparing
Sent Him To Die,
I Scarce Can Take It In;
That On The Cross,
My Burdens Gladly Bearing,
He Bled And Died
To Take Away My Sin
When Christ Shall Come
With Shouts Of Acclamation,
And Take Me Home,
What Joy Will Fill My Heart!
Then I Will Bow
In Humble Adoration,
And There Proclaim,
My God, How Great Thou Art!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hosea 1:1-3:5 1 John 5:1-21
AUTHORS: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE AND PASTOR FOLU ADEBOYE