First Things First

Reading : Deuteronomy 26:1–11 

“You will take the first of all the produce of the ground that you harvest… place it in a basket and go to the place that God, your God, will choose.” — Deuteronomy 26:2 (MSG)

As the Israelites prepared to live in the land God had promised them, Moses gave them a simple but meaningful instruction: bring the first of the harvest to the Lord. This offering was not only about crops; it was about remembering God’s story in their lives. When they presented the basket, they were to tell the story of how God rescued them: “My father was a homeless Aramean… we cried out to God… and God brought us out of Egypt with his powerful arm” (Deuteronomy 26:5–8, MSG). In other words, before enjoying the blessings of the land, they paused to remember that everything they had was a gift from God. Lent invites us to do the same. Before we serve others, we remember the grace that has carried us and the blessings that have filled our lives.

Offering the first fruits also reminded the people to give their best to God. Service begins with gratitude. When we recognize that all we have comes from God, we naturally want to offer our gifts back to Him. The life of Fanny Crosby is a beautiful example of this spirit. Crosby lost her sight as an infant, yet she discovered an extraordinary gift for poetry and songwriting. Over her lifetime she wrote more than 8,000 hymns, including the beloved song “Blessed Assurance.” Rather than seeing her blindness as a limitation, she believed it helped her depend more fully on God. Out of gratitude, she offered her gift of music and words to Him, and through her hymns countless people have found encouragement and faith.

Moses ended the instruction with a joyful reminder: “Rejoice in all the good things that God has given you and your family” (Deuteronomy 26:11, MSG). Gratitude leads to generosity. When we remember God’s goodness, we become eager to share His blessings with others. Lent becomes a season of preparation—placing the “first fruits” of our lives before God and asking how He might use them. Like the harvest offered by Israel, our talents, time, and resources can become offerings of praise. When we give them to God with grateful hearts, our lives become instruments of hope and service in the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the many blessings You have given us. Help us to remember Your goodness and to offer the best of our lives to You. Teach us to use our gifts in service to others, and fill our hearts with gratitude so that everything we do brings honor to You.

Amen.