First Fruits

We worry about every measurement of intelligence and success in our children; we push them, sign them up, compare them, and weigh them. Then, when they are old enough to work, we push them to get good experiences that will help them make an excellent income, name, and life for themselves. We tell them to save as much money as they can as soon as possible. “Be a good steward of what you have,” we say. We do all of this so they will have options. “If you care about people you should work to become successful so you can help them better later rather than squandering your time or money now.” “Invest in yourself first, then you can invest in others.” “Save now so you can retire early, then think how well you’ll be able to serve God.” “Time is of the essence so you can’t start working toward retirement soon enough!”

When the Lord asked his people to offer him their first fruits was it an easy request to satisfy? It depends on one’s perspective. If anyone understands that, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows,” for that person there is no cost at all. For what cost is there if out of all that God gives we offer up the first and the best as a sacrifice of thanksgiving back to him?  There are no promises in farming. The farmers in Israel did not have crop insurance. The first fruits were the first of any harvest, and any sane thinking person would set this aside as seed for the next year. From this point forward, even if his fruited fields are destroyed by wind, water, fire, locust or war, he can count on the very first portion of the harvest to seed his fields next year. But this only bit of earthly assurance was given back to God as recognition that it came from him in the first place. Farmers might not have had treasury bonds, but they understood investment and multiplication. And faithful Israelites understood that God was the source of their life and well-being—even more their purpose and meaning on this earth.

Perhaps our children should spend a year or two in meaningful service to the church or the poor. When they are intrigued by ministry do we encourage it? Do we tell them that God might be calling them into ministry? And do we consider ministry a legitimate pursuit? Do we allow them the option of forgoing college for a few years? Or do we tend to push them into the worldly model? What if we encouraged them to do anything radical? The word radical is often used in the context of terrorists, but it is also one of the best words to describe the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. His life was radical. From the start of his public ministry, at age thirty, we see a man with no place to live and nothing to his name except the clothes he wore. Though he had power he didn’t use any of it for his own advantage, comfort or to establish an earthly kingdom. He didn’t even manifest a pillow for his head, but he fed five-thousand people real food who came to hear what he was saying. He healed those blind and lame from birth. He calmed the storm. His power was in perfect check with his father’s will. He knew the cost of the cross; there was no way to bargain for a better price. And to his followers he stated this clearly, Luke 14:33 “So therefore, anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

What about missions in your career? Maybe being a missionary is a little intimidating. Maybe living in the jungle is a little more than you’re ready to handle. But are career missions easier? More palatable? Can you carry your cross for a bargain there? If that is what you have found perhaps you have forgone career missions for a career. Consider the idea that Christians don’t get to opt out of the great commision. You are a missionary. If it is easier to be a missionary in some setting then it’s probably in a setting that has the least to offer you personally. The setting that offers you the most gain is the setting in which you will constantly have to deny yourself because the very indulgence you desire is there for the taking. Let me be clear; I do not consider myself qualified to be a successful career missionary because I am weak on the mission part in that setting. I’m not good enough. Am I alone? Who are you? What is the life you were called to? Where is your home? Where is your country? Who is your King? Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?

—reh