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First fruits in the Bible: The Scriptures, Meaning, and Biblical Insights

written by Bob Lotich, CEPF® | Biblical Personal Finance

What You Do With the First Determines What Happens With the Rest

Have you noticed how the first few minutes of your morning often set the tone for your entire day?

It’s not a coincidence. It’s a pattern that shows up everywhere in life—and it’s rooted in one of the most powerful but overlooked principles in Scripture: the firstfruits principle.

This isn’t just some ancient religious ritual.

It’s a divine law that operates whether you recognize it or not—like gravity.

The Firstfruits Principle Shapes Everything Around You

The Bible repeatedly shows us a simple but profound truth: what you do with the first determines what happens with the rest.

This principle is hiding in plain sight throughout Scripture. God commanded Israel to bring the firstfruits of their harvest as an offering, not because He needed their crops, but because He was establishing a spiritual law that would benefit them.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Notice the cause and effect? The first portion dedicated to God determines the condition of everything else.

First Moments Create Momentum

Think about the areas of your life where this principle is already at work:

  • The first minutes of your morning often dictate your day’s productivity
  • The first dollars of your paycheck reveal your true financial priorities
  • The first moments after walking in the door set the tone for your family evening
  • The first response to conflict determines the course of the conversation

I’ve found this principle affects my life in ways I never realized. For years, I struggled with consistency in my devotional life. I’d try to “find time” for God during my day, but somehow that time would evaporate.

Everything changed when I started giving God the first 30 minutes of my day. Not only did my relationship with Him deepen, but the rest of my day seemed to fall into place with surprising ease.

The Science Behind the Scripture

This isn’t just spiritual theory—it aligns with scientific principles too.

Researchers have found that our brains are particularly responsive to primacy (what comes first) and recency (what comes last). Information presented first makes a stronger impression and is more likely to be remembered and acted upon.

This is why “first impressions” matter so much. They’re not just social customs—they’re wired into our neurobiology.

The Consecration Effect

In Romans, Paul reveals a profound expansion of this principle:

“If the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (Romans 11:16)

This is the consecration effect: when you set apart the first portion for God, everything connected to it becomes sanctified.

Think of it like this: when you dip the corner of a napkin in water, what happens? The moisture begins spreading through the rest of the fabric. That’s how consecration works—it spreads from the first to the rest.

Why Most People Miss This

Most people miss the power of this principle because they’re focused on the wrong thing. They see firstfruits as giving something up rather than as positioning themselves for blessing.

But giving God the first isn’t a tax—it’s a divine investment strategy.

When a farmer plants seeds, is he losing them or investing them? From one perspective, he’s giving them up. From another, he’s positioning them for multiplication.

Firstfruits Thinking Transforms Everything

When you grasp this principle, you start seeing its application everywhere. Here’s how it plays out:

Your Money Follows Your First Decision

When you give the first 10% (or whatever percentage God leads you to) before paying bills, something supernatural happens to the remaining 90%.

I’ve watched this play out in my own life. During our tightest financial seasons, Linda and I made giving our first financial priority—even when the math didn’t make sense. Consistently, we’d see the remainder stretch further than it should have.

It wasn’t magic. It was spiritual principle at work.

Your Best Energy Should Go to God, Not Your Inbox

Most of us give God our leftover attention at the end of the day, when we’re mentally and physically depleted.

Instead, try giving Him the first 15 minutes when your mind is fresh. I’ve found that starting my day in prayer and Scripture doesn’t just fulfill a spiritual obligation—it fundamentally alters how I process everything that follows.

Dedicate Projects to God Before You Start, Not After They’re in Trouble

We often begin ventures with our own vision, then ask for God’s blessing when we hit obstacles. This backwards approach limits what God can do.

Build Relationships on Spiritual Foundation from Day One

The most fulfilling relationships in my life are those where God was central from the beginning. These connections didn’t need emergency spiritual renovation during difficult seasons—the foundation was already secure.

Whether it’s marriage, friendships, or business partnerships, establishing God as the firstfruits of your relationship creates a protective covering over everything that follows.

The Supernatural Mathematics of Firstfruits

In the Kingdom, firstfruits operate by supernatural mathematics. When the disciples gave Jesus five loaves and two fish—the little they had—He multiplied it to feed thousands with baskets leftover.

The principle is clear: God can do more with the first given to Him than you can do with 100% kept for yourself.

Up for an Experiment?

I challenge you to test this principle for yourself. Choose one area of your life—your time, talents, or treasure—and deliberately give God the first portion for the next 30 days.

Be specific and intentional. If it’s your morning, set aside the first 15 minutes for prayer before checking your phone. If it’s your finances, give the first percentage of your income before paying any bills.

Then watch what happens to “the rest.”

Malachi 3:10 contains the only place in Scripture where God explicitly tells us to test Him:

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…If you do, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

Jesus: The Ultimate First Fruit

And this principle finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.

Paul calls Him “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). His resurrection guarantees ours.

Because Jesus—the first fruit—conquered death, we who are connected to Him will also conquer death.

So remember, what you do with the first determines what happens with the rest.

It’s true of your time, your resources, your relationships, and your salvation.

The question isn’t whether this principle is at work in your life. It’s whether you’re harnessing its power intentionally or missing its benefits accidentally.

So the question of the day is: what first thing will you dedicate to God today?

Your friend and coach,

Bob sign

Related posts:

  1. 12 Side Hustles That Pay Well
  2. Budgeting Software: 13 Great Free Budget Software Tools
  3. Biblically responsible investing: should Christians invest in morally questionable companies?
  4. Josh Straub on how to get on the same page as your spouse

About Bob Lotich, CEPF®

Bob Lotich, CEPF® is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and has over 15+ years experience writing about Biblical personal finance. He is the award-winning author of Simple Money, Rich Life and has been named a top 20 social influencer in personal finance. Check out his on-demand Christian financial class for couples, small groups and churches called True Financial Freedom.

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Hi there! We are Bob & Linda Lotich. Jesus followers, authors, podcasters, and undying fans of Michael Scott.

This site contains the lessons we learned on our journey from being stingy, debt-ridden fools, to being able to reach our biggest financial goal of giving $1 million by age 40, having zero debt & a paid off house by age 31, and peace with money in the process.

Now we share our best lessons with people like you, groups, and churches with our Award-winning book Simple Money, Rich Life and our 6-week video course True Financial Freedom.

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