The First and the Best by David Jeremiah

The First and the Best Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.  Proverbs 3:9-10, NIV It’s a tradition on every occasion where cake is served—birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and especially weddings—the honoree(s) is given the first slice of the cake. It’s a small reminder of who is being honored. Serving the honoree(s) with the last of the cake would reveal misplaced priorities.

Recommended Reading: Colossians 3:17

In the covenant community of Israel, everyone was to honor God with the first of their harvest. Firstborn sons were set apart as special to the Lord, and only the purest and best of the flock were to be offered as sacrifices. It was an act of recognition, a way of saying to God, “You are the source of all we have; You are the Honoree in the midst of our harvest.” While God’s New Covenant with the Church is not bound by such ceremonial traditions, we are to give ourselves as “living sacrifices” to God by giving to Him our whole life—time, talent, and treasure (Romans 12:1). Whatever you do today, “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The end of our election is, that we may show forth the glory of God in every possible way.  John Calvin