Pillars (8)

Principle of Firsts

This is a teaching based off of Robert Morris’ book Living a Blessed Life.

Exodus 13:1–2 ESV

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Exodus 13:12–13 ESV

12 you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Now before we get into this I understand this is the Levitical Law. Christ came to Fulfill the Levitical Law We are no longer under the Law, but we are under grace.

Principle

However, There are principles in the law that we can understand that when worked within the confines of God we can use to become closer to God.

That’s what we are learning and the title is the principle of Firsts not the law of Firsts.

The first Born must be sacrificed or redeemed.

Understand this means that these things are set apart for God’s exclusive possession.

There were a list of clean animals like a lamb and unclean animals like pig. The clean animal had to be sacrificed. The unclean animal had to be redeemed.

Why is this important?

In NT terms Jesus is the clean we are the unclean. Jesus was the sacrifice we are the redeemed.

But how does this translate into time, talent, and Treasure?

God doesn’t state see which one produces the worst and give me that one. See which one doesn’t behave and that one is mine. He just asks for the first.

2. The first fruits must be offered

Proverbs 3:9–10 NKJV

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Exodus 23:19 (NKJV)

19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.

We must understand what God is emphasizing here: The first of the first. Before anything else happens. It must be presented

This is Key

Genesis 4:3–5 ESV

3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

There are several things we need to notice. Why was Cain’s offering rejected and Able’s offering accepted?

Notice when Cain gave his offering and how he gave it.

In the process of time-When he wanted to

An offering-How he wanted to.

Able Gave the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.

Able gave according to God’s word Cain gave according to Cain’s desires.

God couldn’t accept Cain’s offering because it went against his word.

When we give our time, talents, and money we have to give it according to scripture not according to our desire.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

This is God’s order to us when it comes to use of our gifts. Use your gifts to serve one another- But then as Good stewards. What does that statement mean?

As Good stewards means:

According to Scripture

Use your gifts to serve one another First before you use your gift to benefit you.

This is time, Talent, Treasure.

Now there are times and gifts where God will ask for more than your 10%. If you are gifted in finance I know there are people who God spoke to and said you need to give 20%, 50%, 80% of your income.

There are people in this church who say: I give more than my 10% of my time and talent. But there are those who God requires more of because it comes tot he scripture.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Of God’s varied grace. God may give you time, talent, treasure that is more than he has given to others and may expect more back, the important thing is that it’s your time, talent, treasure is submitted according to the word of God and that God recieves the first fruits.

God cannot be put second

It’s in the nature of who God is that he has to come first. He has to come before self benefit. He has to come before serving to giving to others. He must come first in order for the sacrifice to come to accepted by God.