Last week I concluded a four-part series on How to Pray. We saw that prayer begins with gratitude, but requires persistent intercession to continue and that it ultimately leads to an emptying, an outpouring of self.
This Sunday I want address a practical part of that outpouring - namely, that we return first fruits to God. My brother has a cherry tree that he prunes each year. It's a joy to see the first ripe cherries. By rights those cherries, those first fruits, belong to God. The Bible says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with grain, and your vats will overflow with wine." (Prov 3:9-10)
This Sunday I want address a practical part of that outpouring - namely, that we return first fruits to God. My brother has a cherry tree that he prunes each year. It's a joy to see the first ripe cherries. By rights those cherries, those first fruits, belong to God. The Bible says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with grain, and your vats will overflow with wine." (Prov 3:9-10)
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