Phil and I picked the first run of beans from our garden Monday, snapped them, and then I canned 14 quarts. The first run of beans are always so pretty! Not a blemish, spot, or bad place on these beans. There is a feeling of satisfaction when the jars all seal and you see the fruits of your labor.

Yet there is always a realization that the “first fruit” or result of the garden is not just dependent on our work. There are many things that are outside our control when gardening. I was reminded of this as I canned the beans this week. Last year I did not can ANY beans – nary-a-one! I believe Phil planted beans 3 times and each time those first tender leaves appeared, groundhogs ate EVERY leaf. Needless to say we had no beans. Phil worked hard to eradicate the pests, but to no avail. The critters did not bother our squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, or lettuce. Just the beans. (something did munch on my lovely pumpkins last year just before I was going to gather them)

This year we have seen no pests so far. We have no idea why but we are so thankful!

God is honored when we recognize him as the source of all we have. We may plant the seeds, water them, and gather the harvest – yet who created the seed, the water to sprout the seed, and the soil to nurture the growth? We partner with the God of creation when we garden.

Proverbs 3:9-10 refers to first fruit.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

It is a blessing to have vegetables and fruit to gather, put up for later use, and the ability to share some with others. Some years we have had an abundance of produce, some years, not so much. Sometimes we have been on the receiving end of vegetables and fruit from others’ gardens.

For me the message of this passage in Proverbs is to cultivate an attitude of humility. To acknowledge God as the source of our harvest and the results of our labor whether it is from the garden, our work place. or our homes. Humility also means that I acknowledge the responsibility to offer what I have to others as the “first fruits” that belong to God the creator. The first fruits should be from the best I have, not the “leftovers” or what I no longer want.

God deserves my best.