Put GOD F.I.R.S.T
Mark 12:29-30 (NKJV) 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Put God first! God demands top priority in our lives, and He refuses to play second fiddle. He deserves to be #1 because He made you. What does it mean to have “no other gods before Me”? What is a god (small “g”)? It is anything that dominates or controls your life. Even good things that God has created for us to enjoy become gods when you give them first place in your life!
Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Do you want to be successful? Put God first! WHATEVER YOU WANT GOD TO BLESS, PUT HIM FIRST IN THAT AREA.
HOW DO I PUT GOD FIRST? You can put Him first in your Finances, Interests, Relationships, Schedules, and Troubles!
F – FINANCES
• Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV) 9 Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
• God says, “Give me the first part back and I’ll bless all the rest!”
• The Bible teaches that money is the number one test of our PRIORITIES. Your cheque book reveals what’s really important to you; not what you say, but how you spend your money.
• God’s Word talks more about giving than either Heaven or Hell; over half of Jesus’ parables deal with the subject of money; there are more promises in the Bible about giving than any other subject. Compare Bible words: believe (272 X), pray (371 X), love (714 X), give (2162 X).
• Deuteronomy 14:23 (NKJV) 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.
• What’s tithing? The first 10% of all I make goes back to God. Why is that important? God says if I’m not tithing, He’s not really first in my life. If you’re in a financial mess right now, the first step is to put God first in your finances. WHATEVER YOU WANT GOD TO BLESS, PUT HIM FIRST IN THAT AREA!
• When should I tithe? On the first day of every week – the day you go to worship, because tithing is an act of worship!
• 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NKJV) 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
• Where should I tithe? Where I get fed spiritually – God’s storehouse. The matter of TITHING is the only instance where God says, “Test Me! See if I exist! Let Me bless you and prove Myself to you!”
• Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
I – INTERESTS
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
If God’s really going to be number one, you must put Him first in your interests – amusements, recreation, hobbies, etc. How do you do that? Everything you do with an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE puts God first in that area. Enjoy the things He’s given to you!
• You can tell what a person’s priorities are by seeing what they get excited about. That’s what is important to you. A good test is what you talk about the most – if the Lord is first in your life, He’s going to be part of your conversation. You won’t be ashamed to talk about Him because He comes first!
• Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV) 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
R – RELATIONSHIPS
• Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
• Mark 12:31 (NKJV) 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
• Proverbs 27:19 (NKJV) 19 As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.
• If you want God first in your life, you’re going to have to choose your friends carefully. Why? Because you become like the people you spend the most time with! If you spend time with people who take God lightly, you will tend to become a casual believer. But if you spend time with people who are committed and take God and His Word seriously, you will become a stronger, committed Christian.
• Parents, what type of people are you exposing your children to? Who do you spend time with and invite into your home? Make sure they model the kind of behavior you want your kids to have. (Don’t forget that kids model themselves after what they see on TV, too!)
• Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV) 20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
• If you really want God first, then some relationships are wrong for you! It’s always easier to pull someone down than to pull someone up!
S – SCHEDULES
• Ephesians 5:16-17 (NKJV) 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• How do I put God first in my schedule? I ask Him to help me use my time wisely! I make a TO DO list of things I have to do and say, “God, which of these things do You want me to do?”
• You do not have time to do everything – selection is the name of the game.
• If you really want God to be first in your life, then you need to make a daily appointment with Him to read your Bible and pray, and REVIEW YOUR SCHEDULE AND PRIORITIES with Him! Even Jesus felt the need for daily prayer!
• Mark 1:35 (NKJV) 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
• Matt 6:6 (NKJV) 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
• Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
T – TROUBLES
• Psalm 50:15 (NKJV) 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
• God says, “Turn to Me FIRST when you’ve got a problem!” Prayer should be the first option, not the last resort! God is waiting to hear from you! “Put Me first, even in the tough times!”
• Some people think, I don’t talk to God much when times are good and I don’t feel like I can bother Him with my problems. God says, “Bother Me! Don’t carry it all yourself!”
• How do you know when God is really first in your life? YOU STOP WORRYING! Worry is the warning light that God is not first in my life at this particular moment. When I start worrying, I’m playing God!
• When God is not first in my Finances, Interests, Relationships, Schedule and Troubles – I worry about them!
• Matthew 6:33 (CEV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
• Did you ever notice that Jesus said that right in the middle of a sermon on worry? Putting God first is the antidote to worry!
• Matthew 6:32-34 (NKJV) 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The Well!
This is what we did for our monthly event, “The Well”
Post Title!
Post Details!
Post Title!
Post Details!
