What Is the Meaning of 'First Fruits' in the Bible?
God is the giver of all good things, and when we are blessed with a harvest, we are called to give a portion back to the Lord. This practice is something God set in place very early on for His children to do, not because He needs our harvests, but because it is important that we include Him in all things, remembering to honor, thank, and glorify Him in every way.
What Are First Fruits?
First fruits appear through the instructions given in Leviticus 23:10: "When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest."
The Hebrew word for "first fruit" is bikkurim—which literally translates to "promise to come" (Blue Letter Bible). The people saw these first fruits as an investment into their future. God told them that if they brought their first fruits to him, He would bless all that came afterward. First fruits are essentially the best of what can be offered—not just the first. It is to invest in the future in partnership with God for what is being cultivated through hard work.
Where Is the First Time First Fruits Are Given?
In studying the Word of God, it is wise to be keenly aware of the first time something appears in Scripture. Be it a word or an action, it holds importance. Typically, the first occurrence of a word or action sets the bar, the standard, or the measure going forward. Genesis 4:4-6 shares:
"Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have obtained a male child with the help of the Lord." And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a cultivator of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
This is where Cain missed the mark, for he did not bring forward an offering that was properly honorable to God. We can conclude that what he brought was likely the scraps, something he was willing to get rid of and keep the best for himself. How often do we do the same? We cannot sit in judgement of Cain that he gave his, good enough pieces when we do the same thing through our time, our gifts, or our own offerings to God.
First fruits will find a destination, either in worship to God or in the worship of self. Holding back first fruits for oneself essentially means that one either does not trust God to provide if there is a lack or that God does not come first in line. Although we may not intend it to be that way, it is very important to search our own hearts and ask the Lord to reveal and expose any area in which we are acting as Cain did, not as Abel did in the giving of our best to God. This is not solely with crop or money, it can be with time, resources, or abilities as well.
What Does God Desire from Us?
God is a kind Father and He wants the best for us ultimately. When we give God our best it is there that we will be met with the opportunity for deeper connection and relationship with Him, there is invitation to know Him better through giving. Consider the story of the widow in Mark 12:41, "And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts. And a poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.'"
The woman gave her best, not her scraps. What she gave was but a penny, but it was counted as something so deeply and completely valuable to the Lord. God looks at the heart behind the offering, not the size of the offering itself. Proverbs 21:2 reminds us, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart." God sees past the tangible offering and looks at what the heart is offering unto Him. He desires the first fruits of our hearts above all else.
How Can We Give First Fruits?
We can offer God our first fruits by, first and foremost, surrendering all we have to Him. Inquire of the Lord in all areas of your life how you can honor Him and the Kingdom with the gifts that have been given to you. Remember that first fruits are not merely giving a tithe, as Thithe.ly explains, "Whenever you decide to make a first fruit offering, the important thing is that you do it freely, with no guilt or obligation. This is supposed to be a celebration of all that God has done for you. It's a kind of worship that you can use to support the work of others. A first fruit offering is our opportunity to give above and beyond just a regular tithe" (Thithe.ly, 1). What we give is not to be done as another obligatory checklist item but as a gift of the heart. We are also given a chance to trust God beyond what we can see, configure, or reason with what we currently have. Remember that Jesus fed over 5,000 with just a few loaves and fishes, He can do much with little, so watch Him do the same with what you have to offer. The most valuable thing you have to offer is your devotion and obedience to Him.
Giving of the First Fruits
Each of us has something that has been graciously given, even if we have tirelessly worked to see it come to pass. Just as crops only grow because God has provided the sunlight or rain, just as time has been granted because God has made space, or just as skills have been fostered because He gave the ability; you have received assistance. What you have is not merely and solely from your efforts; God has permitted or provided something to help you along the way, and He deserves to be thanked and regarded for such blessings. Take a moment to consider all you have to offer as a first fruit and ask the Lord to highlight to you where these fruits can be offered to ultimately glorify Him.
Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com
Originally published January 14, 2025.
