"And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. The firstfruits of your grain, of your NEW WINE, and of your OIL, and the FIRST OR BEST of the fleece of your sheep you shall give the priest.
-The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
God wants the first or best of everything in your life.
- The FIRST of your day
- The FIRST of your sacrifice and time
- The FIRST of your creativity and talent
- The FIRST of your worship
- The FIRST of your giving
- The FIRST OR VERY BEST of your love, life, work, productivity and efforts.
Most business and personal relationships fail because one or both parties start giving the other person leftovers. They stop giving their best or first efforts, thoughts and commitment.
To give God the FIRST is obviously a matter of priority; but to constantly give God the BEST is a matter of skill and consistency. It still amazes me how David became a King when none of his predecessors were royalty. Yet Psalms 78:70-72 records:
"He [God] chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the ewes that had their young He brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob His people, of Israel His inheritance. So [David] was their shepherd with an upright heart; he guided them by the discernment and SKILLFULNESS [WHICH CONTROLLED] HIS HANDS.
In order for God to put us in authority, skill must control our hands.
David's skill caused others to take notice of him. When King Saul needed to promote someone, 1 Samuel 16:18 records: "One of the young men said, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who plays skillfully, a valiant man, a man of war, prudent in speech and eloquent, an attractive person; and the Lord is with him."
GOD NEVER PROMISED TO MAKE YOU AVERAGE.
People don't flood average restaurants. People don't buy the jerseys of average athletes. People don't set box office records by making average movies. Colleges don't give full scholarships to average students. Employers don't promote average salespeople. Companies don't give billion dollar contract to average bids.
People don't pay for average.
Jesus said in Luke 16:11-12: "...If you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], WHO WILL GIVE YOU THAT WHICH IS YOUR OWN [that is, the true riches]?"
David was faithful and excellent in what He did. His influence was so powerful, when Solomon (his son) took over the throne he said, "I've got it; I've seen this formula work in my dad; WHATEVER YOUR HAND FINDS TO DO, DO IT WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT." (Also see: Prov. 3:15, 22:29, 24:3,14.)
God groomed a shepherd boy into a King.
Imagine what he can do with us if we become skillful, faithful and seek Him FIRST in our lives.
Just because you are doing your best on that job, doesn't mean that you are doing it skillfully.
The Greek definition of "skill" is: To be productive (actively producing) in a trade, art, craft or occupation. To produce (something from seed) to birth, bring forth, or bear something after a season of travail. It is to get wisdom, intelligence and understanding;
The Hebrew definition is: To be distinguished, attentive, cunning, diligent, eloquent, prudent; to be an expert--able to teach, instruct, direct or prosper in something; it is to have good success.
God has commanded skill to bring you good success. He designed us to teach OR reproduce our skill, authority and strength zone into the lives of others. It was prophesied before His arrival, that Christ would be great; that government would rest on His shoulders and of His rule and reign there would be no end.
That's Who wants to flow out of you.
I was thinking last night, why God chose David and thought to myself, although David was puny, he had already killed a lion and bear that wanted one of his sheep. I don't know if I could've done that. I don't know about you, but I probably would've just gave the lion and bear one of the sheep and tried to get away with the other ones.
When that bear and lion rose up to sheepjack me, I would've been gone.
But David was different. He withstood the attack on his calling and God used it to lead an entire nation.
God never changes our gift; He just changes the industry, position and platform in which we use it. David was a shepherd in his father's house and God took Him from the sheepfolds to become shepherd of His flock (people and inheritance.)
Today, God can use you as the same instrument (of influence, discernment and skill) you've become in society.
He doesn't abandon our gift OR skill, He just (redirects) it.
People downplay promotion, leadership, wealth, honor and success. Because it is the result of hard work, sacrifice, excellence, innovation and humility. But God has always had a plan to give you the best of the land.
It was your influence (that He helped you build) that was useful to Him in Kingdom advancement in the marketplace. He has called you and I to be brand ambassadors of His Name, Word and Power; to be industry evangelists and declare Him great in the sphere of influence where He has made us great.
Don't deny Him a harvest.
