The Blessed Life: Put God First

 

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

God has given us a gift in the Bible, and that’s where we find wisdom for daily living.

Today we want to talk about “Putting God First.” What’s your passion?

Matthew 6:19-21,24

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

1. Don’t lay up for yourselves treasures on Earth.

2. Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.

3. Where you put your treasure, there your heart will go.

If it’s God’s vision, you won’t lack God’s provision.

The average church gives $1,200 – $1,400 per person annually, including spouses & children.

Exodus 13:1-2, 12-13

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine…

12 That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s.

13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

The first-born must be sacrificed or redeemed

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

The tithe, like the first-born, belongs to God. When you give the first fruits to God, the rest is blessed. When you keep the first, the rest is cursed.

Tithing is so much more than 10%. It is giving the first to God. It is putting God first in the area of finances.

The first-fruits must be offered.

Exodus 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

Proverbs 3:9-10

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Genesis 4:3-5

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

• Cain brought an offering, Abel brought the firstborn.

• Cain did not bring of the first-fruits.

• God cannot accept an offering that’s not first.

The tithe must be first.

Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.

• You can give 10% and not be tithing.

• We need to give to God first.

• There are three levels of giving in the Bible: Tithes, offerings, and extravagant offerings.

Romans 12:6-8

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Closing Challenge:

• God says, “Would you give me everything?”

• “You can’t out-give God.”

• God always says to extravagant givers, “Ask what you want.”

• Living the life of a giver is the best life you can live.