I was reading a devotion one evening at dinner with kids. This devotion struck a chord with me that evening. It spoke of our first fruits. It was titled “The First and the Best.” It was from this book here
It mentioned that usually there’s an order when we give things away like food, money or clothes. That order being, we want to make sure we have enough for ourself before we give anything away. Then we’re willing to give away what we don’t need.
My neighbor had given me a canning tool quite a few years ago and I never used it. You know that rule of thumb? The one that says if you haven’t used something for year you will never use it and you need to get rid it. Well, I kind of bent that rule, just a little. I kept thinking “Well what if I need it? What if one day my other thing doesn’t do what it supposed to do and I need this ‘thing’.”
So with enough persuasion, or should I say a lot of persuasion, from the husband (that man hates stuff laying around) I got rid of ‘it’. I dropped if off at a local Salvation Army last week along with a loaded SUV of clothes, shoes and household goods that we no longer need.
Just yesterday I came across a blog post that mentioned this canning item. And it said that it could still be purchased all these years later. I clicked on it and the item is worth over $40. I was shocked. To me it wasn’t worth much. My neighbor had given it to me quite a few years ago and I never used it. So it sat in the garage for probably at least 3 years.
But I automatically found myself thinking ‘I could have sold that for a few bucks on Ebay.’ I immediately displaced that thought! But is entirely crazy that our human nature is just ‘Gimme. Gimme. Gimme. Me. Me. Mel.’
I am so embarrassed that the thought even popped through my mind. I mean for crying out loud! Someone GAVE it to me. Someone else will be blessed to find it at the Salvation Army for a few bucks. And in return the Salvation Army can in turn bless someone else with that bit of income.
Why am I so selfish?
We were born sinful creatures in need of a Savior.
Why isn’t it easier to give away my best?
Because it’s our nature to think about what’s best for ourselves.
I’m determined to look deep into my heart and give God what is rightfully His: The Very best of the First.
Exodus 23:19 As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to house of the Lord your God.
I’m not sure what that will look like. It could mean my time, my finances, my abilities or my ‘stuff’. But it’s all given to me by Him anyway so I’m sure he knows best how to use it.
A sinner saved by GRACE,
Melanie
xo
Items mentioned in this post:
Such an awesome post – I too am guilty of not always giving “the very best of the first”…this past weekend, a video aired at our church service of a single, divorced mom who also was a recovering alcoholic and who was down and out on her luck – and trying to get back on her feet – a slew of events happened to just keep knocking her down and when she also had car problems to deal with and thought things couldn’t get any better, the parents of a child she looked after in children’s ministry came to her after service and offered her their car – not even realizing that she was in such dire need of one! Our God moves in amazing ways!
That’s an awesome story Shashi! We never know how/when God can use us. We just need to be on the lookout for needs.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I love your kind encouragement. 🙂
I really love these posts Melanie. It’s my own little weekly devotional! This one really got me thinking. Giving away “the best” is tough for us… our human selfish desires get in the way. I’m guilty of it all the time. I really appreciate you taking the time to reflect on your own life and to challenge us!
Aww. Thanks Chris. Glad I’m not only in this. Sometimes I just feel utterly selfish. And I desire to change that for God’s glory.
So glad you stop by and read my ramblings. 🙂