Think about first fruits – that special offering we give to God. It's a way of saying "thank you" and showing our love for Him. In the Bible, it's often talked about with the first harvest or the firstborn livestock. But it's so much deeper than that, isn't it?
Giving our first fruits is really about acknowledging that everything we have comes from God. It's about honoring Him by giving Him the first and the best – not the leftovers. It's an act of trust, like saying, "God, I know you'll provide. I know you're the owner of everything, and I depend on you."
It's a good reminder to put God first in everything – not just our money, but our time, our talents, how we use what we have, even the decisions we make every single day. When we put God first, we're saying, "I trust you, God. I want your guidance in everything I do."
It's like James 1:181 says, "He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created." That's pretty powerful, to think of ourselves as God's first fruits.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you enter the land that I am about to give to you and you gather in its harvest, then you must bring the sheaf of the first portion of your harvest to the priest,
and he must wave the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for your benefit – on the day after the Sabbath the priest is to wave it.
By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
When you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you occupy it and live in it,
So now, look! I have brought the first of the ground’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” Then you must set it down before the Lord your God and worship before him.
You will celebrate all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.
When you finish tithing all your income in the third year (the year of tithing), you must give it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows so that they may eat to their satisfaction in your villages.
Then you shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred offering from my house and given it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows just as you have commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten your commandments.
I have not eaten anything when I was in mourning, or removed any of it while ceremonially unclean, or offered any of it to the dead; I have obeyed you and have done everything you have commanded me.
Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us, just as you promised our ancestors – a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Today the Lord your God is commanding you to keep these statutes and ordinances, something you must do with all your heart and soul.
Today you have declared the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commandments, and ordinances, and obey him.
And today the Lord has declared you to be his special people (as he already promised you) so you may keep all his commandments.
Then he will elevate you above all the nations he has made and you will receive praise, fame, and honor. You will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he has said.
you must take the first of all the ground’s produce you harvest from the land the Lord your God is giving you, place it in a basket, and go to the place where he chooses to locate his name.
The first of all the first fruits and all contributions of any kind will be for the priests; you will also give to the priest the first portion of your dough, so that a blessing may rest on your house.
Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
“All the best of the olive oil and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the first fruits of these things that they give to the Lord, I have given to you.
And whatever first ripe fruit in their land they bring to the Lord will be yours; everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.
You must give them the best of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, as well as the best of your wool when you shear your flocks.
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“You are also to observe the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors that you have sown in the field, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you have gathered in your harvest out of the field.
Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
You can present them to the Lord as an offering of first fruit, but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma.
But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock – even the fattest of them. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
“Set apart to me every firstborn male – the first offspring of every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal; it is mine.”
We also accept responsibility for bringing the first fruits of our land and the first fruits of every fruit tree year by year to the temple of the lord.
We also accept responsibility, as is written in the law, for bringing the firstborn of our sons and our cattle and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks to the temple of our God, to the priests who are ministering in the temple of our God.
We will also bring the first of our coarse meal, of our contributions, of the fruit of every tree, of new wine, and of olive oil to the priests at the storerooms of the temple of our God, along with a tenth of the produce of our land to the Levites, for the Levites are the ones who collect the tithes in all the cities where we work.
“Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
“‘When you enter the land and plant any fruit tree, you must consider its fruit to be forbidden. Three years it will be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten.
In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, praise offerings to the Lord.
Then in the fifth year you may eat its fruit to add its produce to your harvest. I am the Lord your God.
We also accept responsibility for bringing the first fruits of our land and the first fruits of every fruit tree year by year to the temple of the lord.
You must offer up a cake of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering; as you offer the raised offering of the threshing floor, so you must offer it up.
You must give to the Lord some of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations.
The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the Lord your God. “You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
And there you must take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
Both you and your families must feast there before the Lord your God and rejoice in all the output of your labor with which he has blessed you.
“You must observe the Feast of Weeks – the firstfruits of the harvest of wheat – and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year.
“The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the Lord your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
“‘If you present a grain offering of first ripe grain to the Lord, you must present your grain offering of first ripe grain as soft kernels roasted in fire – crushed bits of fresh grain.
You must be certain to tithe all the produce of your seed that comes from the field year after year.
In the presence of the Lord your God you must eat from the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the place he chooses to locate his name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.
You must give to the Lord some of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations.
“‘Also, on the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord during your Feast of Weeks, you are to have a holy assembly. You must do no ordinary work.
“All the best of the olive oil and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the first fruits of these things that they give to the Lord, I have given to you.
At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the Lord.
But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock – even the fattest of them. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,
but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast.
And there you must take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
“‘Any tithe of the land, from the grain of the land or from the fruit of the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
you must take the first of all the ground’s produce you harvest from the land the Lord your God is giving you, place it in a basket, and go to the place where he chooses to locate his name.
So now, look! I have brought the first of the ground’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” Then you must set it down before the Lord your God and worship before him.
“Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord who rules over all, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all.
See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform – the service of the tent of meeting.
Now a man from Baal Shalisha brought some food for the prophet – twenty loaves of bread made from the firstfruits of the barley harvest, as well as fresh ears of grain. Elisha said, “Set it before the people so they may eat.”
Then you shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred offering from my house and given it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows just as you have commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten your commandments.
I have not eaten anything when I was in mourning, or removed any of it while ceremonially unclean, or offered any of it to the dead; I have obeyed you and have done everything you have commanded me.
Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us, just as you promised our ancestors – a land flowing with milk and honey.”
When the edict was issued, the Israelites freely contributed the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount.
On that day men were appointed over the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits, and tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions prescribed by the law for the priests and the Levites, for the people of Judah took delight in the priests and Levites who were ministering.
He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient to the law of the Lord.
When the edict was issued, the Israelites freely contributed the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount.
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.
I also provided for the wood offering at the appointed times and also for the first fruits. Please remember me for good, O my God.
‘Take an offering for the Lord. Let everyone who has a willing heart bring an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, bronze,
They must not sell or exchange any of it; they must not transfer this choice portion of land, for it is set apart to the Lord.
Moses instructed them to take his message throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman do any more work for the offering for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more.
Now the materials were more than enough for them to do all the work.
My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.
Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”
For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.
One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty.
A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.
And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law – justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others.
All the tithe of herd or flock, everything which passes under the rod, the tenth one will be holy to the Lord.
The owner must not examine the animals to distinguish between good and bad, and he must not exchange it. If, however, he does exchange it, both the original animal and its substitute will be holy. It must not be redeemed.’”
On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.
When you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you occupy it and live in it,
So now, look! I have brought the first of the ground’s produce that you, Lord, have given me.” Then you must set it down before the Lord your God and worship before him.
You will celebrate all the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.
But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.
Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense.
For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death.
You will be hated by everyone because of my name.
Yet not a hair of your head will perish.
By your endurance you will gain your lives.
He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it,
because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.
People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.
He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near.
So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
“But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.
For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth.
But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives.
And all the people came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.
For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”
For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales
and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need.
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you! I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good!
By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.
“But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.
For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.
And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.”
Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time.
For there on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord, all the house of Israel will serve me, all of them in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will seek your contributions and your choice gifts, with all your holy things.
Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
They came, men and women alike, all who had willing hearts. They brought brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments, all kinds of gold jewelry, and everyone came who waved a wave offering of gold to the Lord.
Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.
You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
“A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The Lord who rules over all asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, ‘How have we made light of your name?’
You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, ‘How have we offended you?’ By treating the table of the Lord as if it is of no importance!
For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord who rules over all.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts.
He lifts the weak from the dust; he raises the poor from the ash heap to seat them with princes and to bestow on them an honored position. The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord, and he has placed the world on them.
and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod’s household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.
Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man – a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
All the officials and all the people gladly brought their silver and threw it into the chest until it was full.
Whenever the Levites brought the chest to the royal accountant and they saw there was a lot of silver, the royal scribe and the accountant of the high priest emptied the chest and then took it back to its place. They went through this routine every day and collected a large amount of silver.
Everyone who crosses over to those numbered, from twenty years old and up, is to pay an offering to the Lord.
The rich are not to increase it, and the poor are not to pay less than the half shekel when giving the offering of the Lord, to make atonement for your lives.
Then you are to celebrate the Festival of Weeks before the Lord your God with the voluntary offering that you will bring, in proportion to how he has blessed you.
The Israelites and the Levites will bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil to the storerooms where the utensils of the sanctuary are kept, and where the priests who minister stay, along with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the temple of our God.”
“Go to Bethel and rebel! At Gilgal rebel some more! Bring your sacrifices in the morning, your tithes on the third day!
Burn a thank offering of bread made with yeast! Make a public display of your voluntary offerings! For you love to do this, you Israelites.” The sovereign Lord is speaking!
You must go to the priest in office at that time and say to him, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord promised to our ancestors to give us.”
The priest will then take the basket from you and set it before the altar of the Lord your God.
The Lord spoke to Aaron, “See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance.
When your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ –
then you will say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, when he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck Egypt and delivered our households.’” The people bowed down low to the ground,
This is the law for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering sacrifice,
“Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.
When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards?
Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!
I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.
Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning!
Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!
Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.
But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?
And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?
Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!
But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?
So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.
The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!”
But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?
The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor to the needy honors him.
And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence! Worship the Lord in holy attire!
Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.
The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.
How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.
Every one of you must give as you are able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
“‘When a person presents a grain offering to the Lord, his offering must consist of choice wheat flour, and he must pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it.
The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons – it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.
“‘No grain offering which you present to the Lord can be made with yeast, for you must not offer up in smoke any yeast or honey as a gift to the Lord.
You can present them to the Lord as an offering of first fruit, but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma.
Moreover, you must season every one of your grain offerings with salt; you must not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be missing from your grain offering – on every one of your grain offerings you must present salt.
“‘If you present a grain offering of first ripe grain to the Lord, you must present your grain offering of first ripe grain as soft kernels roasted in fire – crushed bits of fresh grain.
And you must put olive oil on it and set frankincense on it – it is a grain offering.
Then the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke – some of its crushed bits, some of its olive oil, in addition to all of its frankincense – it is a gift to the Lord.
Then he must bring it to the sons of Aaron, the priests, and the priest must scoop out from there a handful of its choice wheat flour and some of its olive oil in addition to all of its frankincense, and the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke on the altar – it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord.
The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons – it is most holy from the gifts of the Lord.
All who believed were together and held everything in common,
and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.
If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you – make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.