Hubby and I went out early to try to get our outdoor work done before the sun got high and hot. Hubby was busy toting wheelbarrow-fuls of split firewood over to the shed where he was stacking them. I was busy watering the garden.
Much to my great surprise I discovered a couple of fresh green beans ready for picking! Our “first-fruits” of the garden for this year! How exciting!
The Bible has a lot to say about “first-fruits.” The Old Testament is filled with mentions of “first-fruit” offerings to the Lord. So, I have always taken very seriously the “first-fruits” which have come from our garden each year.
In past years I have given as a gift our “first-fruits” to dear friends from church. But years like this one, when the “first-fruits” are just a pitiful little couple of beans … that’s when they are gifted to my dear sweet hubby as a “snack.” (Hubby enjoys munching on fresh green beans.)
So, with great delight I set the few little “first-fruit” green beans off to the side as a surprise for hubby. And I continued watering … after which I got distracted weeding. The sun rose high, and the day started heating up. I headed inside … and completely forgot all about the little handful of “first-fruit” green beans.
It wasn’t until noon that I suddenly remembered them with a start. They were sitting off to the side in the garden baking in the full sun! Sadness!!!
With a sinking heart I headed outside in the blazing heat to retrieve what was left of our “first-fruits.”
Here you can see our “first-fruit” green beans. Sadness!!
As I held the pitiful little scorched “first-fruit” green beans in my hand a great sadness washed over me … for they were such an accurate picture of how I have felt so many times when it comes to relationships.
So many times, I have brought my “first-fruits” to a relationship. I have given the very best that I have to the relationship. I have given all that I have … everything God made me to be. And … my “first-fruits” have been “scorched” – the other person in the relationship has treated my “first-fruits” with total indifference; disregard; belittling.
Scorched “first-fruits.”
Time and again I have asked God: “Was it a waste?? Was all that effort and love I poured into that relationship a waste?? Did I do it all for nothing??”
God always comforts my heart that my “first-fruit” gifts poured out in relationship to others are first-and-foremost an offering to Him! They are not a waste! I am giving my best to Him! And He is pleased! No matter how the other person responds. No matter if I feel rejected. God is very pleased! And God loves me!
I’ve thought a lot about what it must have felt like to have been under the Old Testament sacrificial system … continually bringing sacrifices of “first-fruits” and sacrifices of lambs and doves and grain. I’m sure it must have felt like a waste. The best of the best they had … burned up to nothing. Then they went back home emptyhanded. Perhaps those people felt the same way I do when my “first-fruit” offering to God feels like a total waste and for nothing.
But God is pleased!
God is very pleased with our “first-fruits” … no matter if they wind up “scorched” by others.
Keep bringing your “first-fruits” to the relationships God has placed in your life! Keep giving the best you have to those relationships! No matter how they are received. God sees! And God is pleased!
