The First.

It's the first day of the year! 

Because it's the first of the year I'm reminded of a story in the Bible that occurs in the first book of the Bible with the first sons in the Bible and their first offerings to God. The story is about Cain and Abel, who were two brothers, and while Cain tended to the fields of their family, his brother, Abel, tended to the flocks. One day both brothers gave an offering to God and the following explains the events occurred. 

³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, ⁴ and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.

Genesis 4:3-5

I've honestly read over this passage tens of times throughout my life and for so long I wondered why God preferred Abel's offering over Cain's. I've also heard many people preach about how God preferred Abel's offering because it was from an animal versus fruit but this conclusion never felt complete to me. When thinking about this piece of text today I came to the conclusion that it's not because the sacrifice was meat versus fruit that God preferred Abel's offering over Cain's but because Abel sacrificed, "the firstborn of his flock" while Cain sacrificed the "____fruit of the ground" (verses 3 & 4, underline added). Although it may seem obvious, when it comes to flocks, the firstborns are the animals that are born prior to their younger siblings. I know this concept seems simple but when we look at Abel's sacrifice in this context, by sacrificing the firstborn, Abel trusted that God would continue to produce more flock. Abel showed God that He wanted to honour Him higher than he did himself or his family and also that he trusted that God would continue to provide animals for their own personal needs. Abel's offering was pleasing to God because it was of the first and it was his very best. Cain's offering, contrarily, was not pleasing to God because it wasn't of his first and, therefore, wasn't his very best.  

So what does for us to sacrifice our first to God? Because most of us don't raise flocks and grow fruits nowadays bringing our first could mean a number of things. In your case, it could be your dreams, time, family, friends, schooling, money, abilities, talents, and so much more. It doesn't just have to be money, which is usually what is assumed to be sacrificed in the New Testament; and it doesn't have to be animals, which is usually what is assumed to be sacrificed in the Old Testament. First is first is first is first. You know what your first is, and if you don't, ask God, because He for sure knows what your first is.  

Therefore, let us let go of every second-prize offering we've sacrificed to God in the years before. 
Let us reject any fearful thought that is telling us to hold onto our first-fruits for ourselves just until we feel "secure."
Let us stop giving God our leftovers. (I remember one time in high school trying to give my un-touched left to someone that asked me for change on the street and they did not want my leftovers! If my leftovers aren't good enough for a homeless person how could they ever be good enough for God?)
Let us stop all that nonsense and bring God our first.
Let us bring God our first. 

Let us bring God our first. 

Let us bring God our first.