What are Firstfruits?

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 - But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[c] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

 

In this second part of Paul’s second letter to Thessalonica, the Apostle circles back to a concern in the first letter – the Second Coming of Christ.  He assures this church that they have not missed the Second Coming.  There are specific things that need to happen before Christ returns and they haven’t happened yet.  I want to note that Paul’s list of things that need to happen is somewhat lost on us two thousand years later.  Paul had some very specific things in mind that he was looking to happen before Christ would return.  It is nearly impossible for us to take what Paul says in 2:1-12 and try and match it up to today’s events in an effort to predict Jesus’s coming.  That was not Paul’s intention in first century Greece and so certainly, it is not an appropriate use of this text two thousand years.  What we can take from 2:1-12 is the same thing Paul intended the Thessalonians to take for these words long ago;  we have not missed Jesus’s return.  That glorious event is still ahead of us. 

The other encouragement that we can take from 2 Thessalonians 2 is from the passage quoted above.  The fact that we have been trusted with the exciting knowledge of Christ’s Gospel and with the knowledge that Jesus will return is a privilege that we should never take for granted.  We are what Paul says are “firstfruits.”  Broadly speaking, “firstfruits” are what “prime the pump” for the work that is come after.  Firstfruits in Hebrew tradition were an offering that provided for the sustenance of Priests and the Temple.  In the early church, this practice morphed into the practice of the tithe, giving the first 10% of all income to provide for the work of the church.  Two thousand years later, this practice still persists;  the church is resourced primarily through the giving of Christian community members.

So what would it mean to say that “God chose [us] as firstfruits?”  It means that we who have chosen to follow Christ were first chosen by God to be the “resources” through which God’s work is done in the community.  It’s actually not much of a stretch to say that God has chosen us to be reinvested in his work so that the work is glorified through the very people God has chosen.  We are God’s “tithe” to multiply and provide for the work of the Kingdom.  I invite you to spend a few moments to think about yourself in this way. 

 

Questions:  How might my life be God’s way of providing for others?  Are there specific people or causes that I am feeling pulled toward right now?  Will I say “yes” to being used by God in these ways?

 

Prayer:  God, thank you for choosing us to become your sons and daughters.  Thank you for making us stewards of your message and outreach to others. Lead us to be faithful with all that you have entrusted with us.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for the victims and Louisiana community where yet another mass shooting has taken place.

 

Song:  Live Like That – Sidewalk Prophets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r1lLYKdMLU

The Great Wedding Feast

 The Great Wedding Feast 

Matthew 22:1-14, NLT - Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’  But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.  Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

 

“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.  ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.  Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

                I’m just going to say it – I don’t like this story.  Scholars who are much more qualified than me interpret this parable in dozens of very different ways, some interpretations being the exact opposite of others.  I believe part of the problem is that there are cultural elements underlying the structure of this story that are somewhat lost to us in the twenty-first century.   So one of my encouragements for today is to do your own wrestling with scripture even when you don’t always like it.  Over the years, I keep coming back to this difficult passage and each time, it causes me to do a little more wrestling.  This is a good thing.

As Matthew includes this story, it is a third story told against the Chief Priests and Temple Elders.  We talked about the first two (in Matthew 21) in our last reflection.  The “Man with Two Sons” makes the point that Israel (God’s chosen people) were asked to obey and they promised to do so.  However, they did not keep that promise.  However, gentiles who were never obedient before are now deciding to obey God’s instructions and are entering the Kingdom of God.  The second parable was about the wicked tenants who rejected and/or killed the landowner’s servants and even his son when they came to collect the proceeds from the vineyard.  Those tenants are removed and the vineyard is entrusted to outsiders by the jilted landowner.  This parable adds a further indictment on the religious leaders.  Because of their disobedience and refusal to accept Jesus has caused God to take away their stewardship of God’s Kingdom and give it to “outsiders” who are willing to obey. 

This third story reinforces this indictment and adds yet another surprising announcement.  The Wedding Feast hosted the King and his son is ready, but the guests are nowhere to be found.  The King sends His servants out to gather the guests, but the guests still don’t come.  In fact, they beat and kill the servants.  Not surprisingly, the King deals harshly with those who have not only refused his invitations, but they have killed his servants.  The surprise is what comes next.  The King invites anybody and everybody to the feast until the feast is full. 

What is clear is that the King and his Son are God the Father and God the Son.  Furthermore. the issue this first part of the story raises is who will now be invited to the Feast of God’s family.  After all, a wedding is primarily a family affair.  What is also clear now is that, there are no pre-qualifications to get into the feast.  Everyone is given an invitation.  However, there is caveat that is provided by the second part of the story. 

Once everyone is seated at the banquet, the King spots someone who is not dressed properly and, long story short, the guest is kicked out.  This aspect of the parable is what gives all the biblical scholars the most trouble.  Without hashing all of the scholarly arguments out, let me simply say this.  However you interpret this, what is clear is that, while all are invited to the feast, not all belong there.  The question of whether or not one belongs at the feast has to do with them making the proper preparations to be there.  And the preparations are not that extensive.  One only has to wear the proper clothing.  It’s a simple thing to do and it’s something anyone can do it.  But that simple preparation is required.  

Jesus sums up the whole thing with the eight words, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Again, scholars argue to know end about the specific meaning of Jesus’s conclusion.  I’m certainly not going to settle the issue here.  But here’s where I am with this story at this point in time.  God has indeed expanded the invitations to the Great Feast to anyone who is willing to come.  This is amazing news for us all.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m quite certain I was not on the original list.  To now be welcomed at God’s table is a privilege I hope to never take for granted.  However, God expects more from me than just showing up.  I think what constitutes “putting on proper clothing” looks different for each of us, but whatever that is, it is expected by the King.  My response to the invitation should demonstrate that I understand just how amazing an opportunity I have been given. 

 

Question:  What do you believe God expects from you personally?

 

Prayer:  God, thank you for the invitation to sit at Your table and enjoy the feast that you have prepared.  Help me to understand how I might adequately express my gratitude for your amazing grace. 

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for a clearer sense of God’s calling for your life right now.

 

Song:  Come to the Table – Sidewalk Prophets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXXxLwxfo0U