Learning To Put God First In My Life

In review of Matthew 6:33 it says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Bottom Line:

First, be concerned about his kingdom and what he wants, then he will provide you with all of your other needs.

What this means to me:

I am to be concerned with and even desire what God wants accomplished (his Kingdom, his desires.) If I do, he promises to take care of all of my other needs. Rick Warren mentioned that he was told by one of the best known and successful business leaders of Southern California that, “you need to tell people the best time to start tithing is when they’re in debt. That’s when they need the most help.” This rings true. Whatever I want God to bless in my life, I do so by putting him first in that area. Whatever I put God first in, is what he will bless. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). I need to decide that I’m going to tithe and that I’m going to save, even if it means living on less so that I can accomplish both. Truth is, I can live on any amount I have to. It is a choice. Nobody made buy and the kind of car I drive, live in the kind of house I have, or pay the kinds of bill I pay. In reality, God wants me to give, and he wants me to save. If you tithe 10 percent and save 10 percent, that means you live on 80 percent of your income. A friend of mine, actually recommends a 10/10/10/70 plan, 10 percent giving, 10 percent saving, 10 percent investing and then living on 70 percent. Making an adjustment like this will mean a big change for myself and my wife. It means making sacrifices and giving up some things (like eating out.). There are enormous payoffs as God will always honor the areas in which I put him first. The Bible says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:23 LB). In all I do, I need to be put God first. This means that as I’m thinking through the things I spend my money on, I need to consider those things I’m most attached. These things may be competing with God in my life. In addition, having a savings provides a cushion, and it’s God’s way of helping us deal with the unplanned expenses that will come and for a way for us to get larger things we need without going into debt to get them. Investing is important because if allows me to plan for my future when I won’t have a full time income.