O n this day, I preached on Activating God’s Favour at my Local Church. My sermon was drawn from Proverbs 3:9-10 and Genesis 4:3-5, both from the English Standard Version (ESV).
”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. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Genesis 4:3-5 ESV
Genesis 4:3-4 states that “With time, Cain and Abel took their offerings to God”. That is, they took portions of their produce to God when they were supposed to offer the same to Him. And of Abel does verse 4 highlight that “he took the firstborn of his flock of sheep” to God.
(This is) the time to offer the first fruit offering is the beginning of the harvest season
Therefore, Abel’s offering gives me an idea of what time it was because there is a time for every offering. It was the beginning of the harvest season. This was the time when the two (2) brothers were to offer their first fruits to God.
The same applies to you and me since we are at the beginning of a new harvest season, the year 2025. We shall therefore begin to harvest the first fruits of our labour as early as January. And my prayer is that we shall offer our first fruits to God as we shall begin to harvest the same.
Moreover, whenever you are at the beginning of the coming years, I pray that you will offer your first fruits to God. This is the way of activating God’s favour.
Your first fruit is according to the harvest of your labour
You will harvest according to your labour and from your harvest, you will take an offering to God (Exodus 23:16). Remember, Genesis 4:2 stated that Abel was a keeper of sheep and Cain was a worker of the ground. And they offered to God according to their harvests. Meaning that your occupation and all occupations are covered.
For you and me who live and work in these modern times, our harvest is usually in the form of money. Because we usually sell/trade our time and knowledge/skill for money. So our first fruits shall be monetary, which we have to offer at the beginning of this year.
Offer your first fruit together with others at an agreed-upon (appointed) time
Moreover, we have to set aside our first fruit offerings because we harvest at different times, but we have to offer them at the same agreed-upon time, just like Cain and Abel. So you have to be intentional about your first fruit offering and the time appointed to offer the same.
First fruits are offered through the priest
I want you to appreciate that Cain and Abel took their offerings directly to God at the appointed time. At that time, God hadn’t instituted the priesthood, because only Adam’s family was on earth. But later, God, in the fullness of time, instituted the priesthood, and the Israelites, who were God’s people/nation, offered their first fruits through their priests (the priest was the people’s representative before God).
Consequently, you have to offer your first fruit through your priest (Leviticus 23:10-11, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, and Numbers 18:11-12). And your priest is your local church pastor.
”9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Activating God’s favour
First fruit can activate God’s favour
Now, Genesis chapter 4 verse 4 states that Abel took to God the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock of sheep, and the Lord regarded him and his offering. That is, Abel honoured God with the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock.
I, therefore, want to encourage you to offer the very best of your first fruit to God. This is how you walk in wisdom as the Wiseman expected.
Nevertheless, normally and naturally, the first fruit is usually the best (Hannah’s firstborn, 1 Samuel 1:21-28). And once you start to do so, I further encourage you to stand firm in the same. After all, God is the One who enables you to produce and harvest (Deuteronomy 8:18).
Therefore, in as much as both of them honoured/obeyed God, only Abel activated (attracted) God’s favour (Genesis 4:4-5 versus Proverbs 3:9). And remember, Abel’s offering was the offering that was referred to as the first fruits because it did qualify to be referred to as so.
Trust God
Finally, Proverbs 3:9-10 exhorts you (and me) to “honour the Lord with the first fruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats (presses) will be bursting with wine”. That is, if you obey God on this command, then He will supply you with even more (plenty).
Because your offering will activate God to favour you in production and harvest. Remember, Genesis 4:5 states that “God had regard for Abel and his offering”, just as Proverbs 3:10 states that “God will fill your barns with plenty and burst your vats with wine”. And I know God is true (Romans 3:4), He has also exalted His word (Psalm 138:2), and He is faithful (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Timothy 2:11–13 and Psalm 36:5).
