Payment of first fruit s

The Bible Calendar for 10th June 2024.

Deuteronomy  25: 1–26: 15

Jonah  3 & 4

Luke  13: 1–21

POINTS:

 1. Payment of First Fruits

2. Placing in God’s Position

3. Produce Yourself

1. PAYMENT OF FIRST FRUITS

First fruits are given to the Levites, as Moses told the people to bring them with their covenanted prayers. Till today many denominations do it as harvest, some pay their first salary in the year some pay part, and some pay only the first salary received at the start of a job or trade; depending on their beliefs all the people that practice it usually have bountiful testimonies. The passage points out the prayer to be offered and how the first fruits should be paid. Many church officers struggle with the ministers on the first fruits collections while some think that it should be for church projects some say it should be paid into church account meanwhile the ministers are today’s Levites, and God said the first fruits should be given to the Levites and the people should say I have brought the first fruits of the land that you have given me, and the people should rejoice in the presence of the Lord with the Levites around you. This is what many denominations regard as harvest time and some denominations regard the first fruits to be collected in the early month of the year as there are different harvest times but the important thing is to give your first fruits to your minister in your local assembly or parish so that they may rejoice with you in your harvest for they have no other salary than this that which given to them is a stipend and they need to care for their children’s education and other things. Yes, some people say that the scriptures here in the passage mentioned the priest and all the believers as regarded as priests in the New Testament Church, but the tone of this passage gives us the idea of the full-time ministers here which is nobody else than the minister and the person that should collect it are the Levites as mentioned in the passage. Don’t struggle with your pastor in the matter of first fruits it’s part of the renumeration God has given to them, some of them may give part of it to the church project and if they did not give any of it, don’t struggle with them. Some people because they don’t want their pastor to receive the first fruits keep silent about it, and the pastor that mentioned it is named a lover of money but God always knows how to meet the needs of his servants and those that refuse to give will not receive the blessing attached to that aspects.

2. PLACING IN GOD’S POSITION

That we have a close relationship with God does not make us God, HE has HIS own purpose and the little that He revealed to us does not make us to be like Him. Jonah was annoyed that God changed His mind about destroying Nineveh instead of rejoicing that his ministry was fruitful, all that God did should have made him realize the unquestionable power of God, but he wasn’t bothered as he placed himself in the position of God and he want God to be wicked like him. Many of us often place ourselves in the place of God on many issues, we want God to deal with someone as we wish, even when that person apologizes and repents we still want him to be punished believing that only suffering and hardship can correct such person. At times, some church officers will instigate the leaders against their ministers, some will handle issues as if they are the owners of the heavens and the earth. Paul warned those that think that they are steadfast to be careful lest they fall, he also said what have you that you did not receive? and if you realize that you received it why then bragging? Jesus also warned us to refrain from judging others, eventually God was angry with Jonah before he went back to his place. Let us see issues with spiritual eyes rather than physical, God will justify us in Jesus’ name. God is merciful to anyone who humbles himself before Him. Nineveh heard the message of Jonah and repented, sobered, and confessed their sins before God. Both animals and human beings including the suckling children partook in the sobberness and fasting, this made God have mercy on them and change His mind about destructing their lives. But Jonah could not recognize the soberness of the people so it is that many wanted the sinner to die, but the scriptures say he that confessed his sins and forsaken them shall receive mercy, we are human beings who didn’t want the sinner to go unpunished, but remember we are not God.

3.   PRODUCE YOURSELF

 God demands from us to be fruitful in all ministry given to us, He expects us to produce others that can be useful for Him and this is the position of discipleship. Jesus made the parable of the fig tree as it bears no fruits after three years of nurturing, He wanted to uproot it because of its inability to produce fruits though he pleaded to spare it for another year. The question is, how productive are we in the position and ministry we are?  A Choirmaster or Minister, Sunday School Leader or  Witnesses or Youth Leader who has no other person to stand in when he is unavoidably absent is not productive. A minister who cannot produce some people to minister like himself is not fruitful. Some are the same as they were two years ago in the spiritual realm,  some cannot point to something good done by them in the church or affect life positively. Evangelism is one of the areas of productivity where we are expected to be fruitful. Let us rise anew and be fruitful in the area of our calling; the office you run that your absence jeopardizes the function, and then you need to check whether you are productive. It should be your glory and pride that you have someone that you trained to do it better than yourself, who doesn’t demote you but appraises you, and such will know you as their master throughout their life and you will also move forward, but when no other person can play your role you cannot move ahead. Without making use of the people around you, you cannot make yourself detect the gift of people you have, use them, correct their mistakes, and disciple them, you will see your product and you will be happy. The grace to produce good fruits shall be given unto us in Jesus’ name.

Pastor M. O. Shodipe.

For questions: 08056044717