Stewardship is . . . first fruits giving.

What is the difference between first fruits, tithes and offerings? We see the difference by defining the words.

Offering is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary as: 1. The act of making an offer. 2. Something that is offered. 3. A presentation made to God or a deity as an act of religious sacrifice; an oblation. 4. A contribution or gift, especially made at a religious service.

Tithe is defined as: 1. A tenth part of one’s annual income, either in kind or money, contributed voluntarily for charitable purposes or due as a tax for the support of the clergy or church. 2. Any tax or assessment of one tenth. 3. a. The tenth part of something. b. Any very small part.

First Fruits is defined as: 1. The first product of a season’s harvest. 2. The first result or profit of an undertaking.

We might further define these words by saying that an offering is anything we offer to God, usually done out of a felt need on the part of the offer-er. A tithe is the Old Testament tax Law, but it can also be a great New Testament Gospel, wherein we are privileged to respond to our Lord with a tenth of what we have first been given (received) from Him. First Fruits giving, however, is the most Gospeling type of giving. First fruits giving is that giving which recognizes that God gives first, that He will continue to give, and that I do not need to fear that if I do give, that He will not return to help me make “end’s meet.”

13 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs