Which You, O LORD, Have Given

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land.., and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there.  And you shall go to the priest… and say, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’  Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God.

“And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father [who] went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. The Egyptians… humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. Then we cried to the Lord,.. and [he] heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,.. into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  And now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord and worship…  And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given.” Deuteronomy 26:1-11a

When you reach a good place, a resting place, a bountiful place, gather some of your first of all. Choose some first and best and take it to God’s place, declare to God His promises, offer to God His gifts and thanks and worship and joy. All is from Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

While this offering is an act of obedience, it promulgates much more. In acknowledging that God owns everything and is the only distributor of gifts, we exalt His greatness and our servitude, establishing proper relationship. We learn dependence, gratitude, and to bow. We also provide for others and so learn the habit of generosity. What is done in body seeps into heart and soul. His commands become a delight and His favor a righteous expectation. (Deuteronomy 26:12-13,15-19; James 1:17)

The Lord has given all things, including the opportunity to be a steward and guidelines for living. He gives liberally of His Spirit to quicken holy desire and enable zealous obedience. He bestows much all from which we discern the first, and develops joyful obedience and faith as we do His good will. His intention for His treasured possession is beyond our imagining! Would we set about to discover His best and explore its vastness? (1 Corinthians 2:9)

What keeps us questioning God’s order of things? If we know from the Scriptures that His ways are best and for our good, what keeps us choosing otherwise? What selfish impulses need we confess and, by the Spirit’s strength, put away forever? When we hoard His riches we miss out on God’s spiritual return, and have only gain to anticipate when we follow His instructions. Which will it be?

Father, may I never forget that every good gift is from You and for You. I offer You my all for Your use and glory.