Holiness: First Fruits

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,

-- Psalm 24:1

In Deuteronomy 6 we are told to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our "might". That last word there, "might", has been interpreted by some to mean "possessions" (that is actually how it is rendered in the Targums). Which raises the question, How do you love God with your possessions?

The first thing that may come to mind is the tithe. There's actually a couple different tithes in Scripture, but they're all centered around the same two principles: the first fruits of our labor belong to God, and it is our responsibility to take care of the poor in our midst. But it doesn't stop there.

The tithe follows the same pattern as other things we have discussed. You set apart a portion as holy, not so that you can leave the rest as common but so that the whole thing might become elevated through the holy portion (Rom. 11:16). The fact is (as the Scripture above indicates) God owns everything. Your house, your money, your fields, your car--they are all on loan from God. And He has the right to remove these things from you at any time. We are simply servants whom God has entrusted with His creation.

The parable of the talents comes to mind. Three servants were each entrusted with a portion of their master's money and told to invest it. That is how it is with us. The question is will we be like the first two servants who invested their master's money wisely or like the third servant who hid it in the ground?

I like how the English word "talent" actually has two meanings. The one meant here, of course, is currency. But I think the other meaning--our skills and abilities--can apply as well. After all, we belong to God ourselves. Our talents, our skills, they all come from God. We have a responsibility to use those to His glory.

Think about what God has given you, about what He has entrusted you with. From you money to your talents to the fruit of your labor--how are you using these gifts to bless others and bring glory to God? If the task seems overwhelming, just start with the tithe and let it spread from there.

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