Deuteronomy 26, the lectionary for this coming Sunday, talks about sharing the first fruits of the harvest as an offering to God.

The first ripe tomato, the cookies fresh out of the oven, part of the first paycheque. When we share what God has given us, from our first fruits, we honour God.

At the start of the harvest, we don’t know what the coming year will bring. Will there be famine or hardship? Should we can those first tomatoes in a jar on the shelf?

“You pray better when also writing a cheque.”

A donor told me that. After you give, then you pray for that charity more. Makes sense. Is the reverse also true? Can our prayers direct our giving?

“We had so much fun giving that money away” What if a bequest policy at church was a joyful discussion of one final act of kindness?