This is the first part of a message given at a meeting in Vila Mariana. I’ll post the second part tomorrow. Let’s learn from a person mentioned a few times in the Bible. Perhaps you’ve never heard of his existence until now. A spiritual meditation for spiritual people.

I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints – that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. (1 Corinthians 16:15-16)

Stephanas and his family are the highlight in these verse of Paul’s letter. In few words, he reveals important points about these people that bring us great lessons.

Firstly, Stephanas and his household were the first fruits of Achaia, which means, they were the first to convert to the good news in that region of Greece. They were one of the few that Paul personally[1] baptized. Stephanas and his family were the first fruits, in other words, the tithe of God in that region.

This is very interesting because God says in the Bible that His people are His first fruits. Those who are faithful to Him are special. We learn here that more than giving 10% of our money, we need to be the tithe. Being the tithe means honoring God with our lives, respecting Him, placing Him in first place with all we do.

Many heard the gospel in Achaia together with Stephanas. But he and his household were the first ones to react positively and convert. This shows readiness, availability, giving your all without holding back… In other words, diving in head first. Many delay in converting, but they eventually do after a long process. Amen. Just as good. But the ones like Stephanas are the ones that give themselves without delay. Why delay to surrender our lives to God? Only those who want to run the risk of not being saved do this, after all we never know when we’ll die.

Perhaps you’re the first in your family to convert; the first to decide to get baptized in water; the first to receive the Holy Spirit among your friends; the first to leave everything to do the Work of God in your church; the first to surrender your life to God after reading this message. It all depends on you.

Truth is there is a special value to God when someone is the first to say “yes” to Him, to serve Him, to do something for Him. Don’t be slow in your decisions to serve God. Be the first to be ready. This is the first lesson we learned from Stephanas.

There’s more tomorrow. See you here.

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[1] Paul usually let the other disciples baptize the people. Note, however, this “exception”, to do something he wouldn’t normally do, reaped good profit to the gospel later on. Stephanas and his family became faithful disciples. Sometimes we need to do what we don’t usually do to obtain results we don’t usually get.