Firstfruits is a rich biblical concept. In the Old Testament, Israel was commanded to bring the first and best portion of every harvest to the LORD as an offering (Exodus 23:19, Leviticus 23:10). The principle is one of priority: the first of anything, offered to God, sanctified the whole. When you offer the firstfruits, you are saying, "this entire harvest is from You, and I acknowledge it by giving You the best before I keep any for myself." The offering was also an act of faith: you give before you know how much the rest of the harvest will yield. Firstfruits becomes a theological category in the New Testament. Paul writes: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Christ's resurrection is the aparche, the first sheaf of a much greater harvest. Every believer who has died in Christ will one day rise as He rose, because His resurrection is the guarantee of theirs. The Holy Spirit is also called "the firstfruits of the Spirit" (Romans 8:23) — a first installment of the full inheritance yet to come. The doctrine of firstfruits teaches us to give God the first and best of what we have, and also teaches us that our present spiritual blessings are only the beginning — the full harvest is still to come.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 — "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead... each one in His own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming."
Romans 8:23 — "Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
Leviticus 23:10 — "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: "When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.""
Proverbs 3:9-10 — "Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine."