Jesus gave us a principle that sounds simple, but when we truly live it, it has the power to shape every area of our lives! What is that principle? Put God First!
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV
Notice that Jesus didn’t say to fit God somewhere into our lives. He said to seek Him first. God doesn’t simply want to be one of many priorities competing for our attention. He wants His rightful place on the throne of our heart.
We all have that throne—the place of greatest importance, influence, and affection in our lives—and something will occupy it. It can be our career, family, money, possessions, pleasure, success, or simply ourselves. Putting God first means regularly settling the issue in our heart: “Lord, You are first. Your Word has the final say. Your will matters more than mine.”
One practical way to do that is to begin each morning talking with God about who you were before you knew Him and thanking Him for how He has changed and shaped your life in Christ. Praise Him for what He has delivered you from and what He is developing in you. Ask Him for the strength to live for Him that day and to recognize and reject anything that would try to draw your heart away from Him. In doing this, we consciously put God back on the throne of our heart every day.
Putting God first also means giving Him the first part of our time. For some, that might mean getting up an hour earlier than necessary to spend time in God’s Word and prayer before the responsibilities and distractions of the day begin. David wrote, “In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3 NIV
Finding that time can take some experimentation. You might develop a plan only to discover that it doesn’t work very well. Don’t quit. Keep trying and asking God to lead you until you find a timeframe that truly fits your life. And when you find it, frame it and make it sacred. Protect that appointment with God. Over time, it can become one of the most treasured parts of your day.
Putting God first also includes our finances. Proverbs says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” Proverbs 3:9 NIV For us, that can mean determining beforehand that the first ten percent—the tithe—belongs to the Lord. Instead of waiting until the end of the month to see what is left, we set it aside first and bring it to Him as an acknowledgment that every good thing we have ultimately comes from Him.
God even attached a remarkable promise to this act of faith: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… ‘Test Me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’” Malachi 3:10 NIV
Putting God first isn’t merely something we say; it becomes something we live. It touches our heart, our time, and our finances. And from time to time, we should ask ourselves, Is God truly first in my life, or have I gradually allowed something else to take His place?
Life has a way of rearranging our priorities if we aren’t careful. But when God occupies His rightful place, everything else begins to be seen from the right perspective—our marriage, family, work, money, decisions, dreams, and challenges.
So remember this simple pattern: Give God first place in your heart, the first part of your day, and the first portion of your increase.
Matthew 6:33 NIV “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Prayer: Father, I want You to have first place in every area of my life. Help me to keep You on the throne of my heart, give You the first part of my day, and honor You with the firstfruits of all You place in my hands. Help me to always give You my first and my best. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment