Honoring God with Our Best | Nehemiah 10:32-39

Nehemiah 10:32-39 CALL OUT: To Tony Wendt, one of our subscribers and financial partners from Neenah, WI. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. As I mentioned two days ago, the section from verses 30-39 lists specific changes the people agreed to make as a community with God. I have broken these down into three parts: Marital Purity (Nehemiah 10:30). Sabbath Renewal (Nehemiah 10:31). Temple Priority (Nehemiah 10:32-39). Today, we will focus on the third tenet of their rededication, their recommitment to Temple Priorities. There are a lot of details in this text. Many of them might seem a little foreign to you. So, let me break them down for you. The first two verses here address the Temple Administration. These were monies used for operational needs in service to God. Shewbread: These were 12 loaves of bread made of fine flour prepared for the golden table every Sabbath day. Regular Offerings: These included grain offerings and burnt offerings. They were part of daily rituals to honor God. Special Offerings: These offerings were made on special days like the Sabbath, New Moon festivals, and other religious feasts. Holy Offerings: These were special offerings dedicated to God. Sin Offerings: These offerings were made to seek forgiveness for sins. General Temple Upkeep: The tax was also used for the maintenance of the temple and its properties. The rest of the verses address the First-Fruit Offerings. In the Law of Moses, "First-Fruits Offerings" were the first portion of crops and produce that were harvested by the Israelites. These were offered to God as a sign of gratitude and acknowledgment that the land and its produce belonged to Him. They were: Symbols of Gratitude: The offering of the first fruits was a way for the Israelites to express their thankfulness to God for the fertility of the land and the harvest. It was also an acknowledgment that everything they had came from God. Offerings for the Temple: These first fruits were brought to the Temple and presented to the priests. The offering included various types of produce, depending on what the individual had harvested. Supplies for Celebrations: The offering of first fruits was often associated with their religious festivals, like the Feast of Booths, which they had just celebrated. Presentation of God's Best Provision: By offering the first and best of their produce, the Israelites showed their trust in God's continued provision. It was an act of faith, given that they offered these first fruits before the full harvest was gathered. The first fruits were a tangible way for the people of God to participate in worshipping something greater than themselves. They were tangible reminders of their dependence and need for the provision of God. Two applications here. First, we should always give God the best of our time, talent, and treasure. We all should. As your pastor and teacher, I should give you my very best. But you should give your very best as well. The believing body needs each other, and we should all bring to bear in the community our very best to help administrate the regular and daily work of the Lord. The things I do here don't just happen. Some people join with me to make it happen. I have a finance team, website team, prayer team, volunteer team, publishing team, planning team, and videography team. In fact, [shameless plug 😬] I am currently looking for someone with some video-editing/social media skills. When all these things work together, God uses us to reach his people for his kingdom and glory. Second, we also give our first and best to keep our pleasures subject to God's ongoing provision. Every believer will always struggle with selfishness and pride, but the first-fruits principle is a full frontal attack on this. The first fruits practice keeps our pleasures pointed at God's pleasures. Giving our first and best requires us to regularly submit our selfish desires and prideful passions to God and his priorities, plan, pleasure, and provision. Therefore, when we give God "our best," we recognize that this is an output of "his best," which is a gift to us; we are only allowed to steward, which keeps us dependent on his goodness. So, do me a favor. Like I give my best to the body, I want you to give your best to the body today. This could be your family, a group, or your church. But give for their benefit, your benefit, and God's glory. #SabbathRenewal, #Nehemiah10, #FaithInAction, #GodsCommandments, #ModernFaith, #RestAndWorship, #BiblicalPrinciples, #ChristianDiscipline, #SpiritualGrowth, #DailyDevotion