Online Reporter
GREETINGS, beloved nation. Putting God first in our lives is extremely important for us as believers. If we place God at the forefront of our lives, our lives will be filled with joy, love and grace. When we choose to prioritise other things above God, we are being disobedient to His Word.
Setting anything above God in our lives constitutes idolatry. The Lord is clear that we must not have idols (Exodus 20:1–26; 1 John 5:21). As Christians, our top priority should be God and serving Him.
Even good things can become idols if we place them above God, such as family, friends, education, ca-reers or hobbies. While these are good, they can become idols if they take precedence over God. When we put God first and foremost in our lives, our lives will become more joyful.
Sadly, for many Christians, God occupies only a small part of their lives. He is low on their priority list. Some feel they do God a favour by attending church for an hour a week. Others may attend regularly but behave very differently outside of church. Even those who are faithful in church often rarely tithe 10% of their income or read their Bible daily. Work, recreation and rest often come before God. This should not be the case.
But what does it mean to “Put God First”? To put God first means to love Him more than anyone or any-thing else. It involves choosing our attitudes, values, responses and how we use our time with Him in mind. When someone asks you to do something, you run it past Him first, asking, “Is this something you want me to do?” It means being filled with the Holy Spirit and inviting Him to guide and empower you (Ephesians 5:18).
The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:31–33:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Obviously, food, drink and clothing are very important. However, this verse reminds us that we are to seek God first and trust Him to provide for all our needs. It is easy to become so preoccupied with meeting our own needs that we neglect our most important need: God.
If we seek God above every-thing else, He will meet every other need we have.
So, how do we put God first in our daily lives? Here are some ways to prioritise God:
(i) We give God the first place in our hearts. The Bible tells us in Matthew 22:37:
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Too many have given first place to a job, a person, a cause, a pleasure, a sport, or a dream. Your heart is a kingdom, and He is the King.
(ii) We give God the first hour of the day. The Bible says in Psalm 63:1: “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” Spending time alone with God in prayer, Bible reading, and meditation is essential. During this time, you centre your mind, heart and soul around God.
(iii) We give God the first consideration in every decision. The Bible states in Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.” Seek God’s guidance. What does the Bible say about it? If there is no specific verse, find a principle that applies. Seek advice from godly people who know the Bible.
Pray about your decision with a submissive spirit and ask God what He wants you to do. Then, obey. Do not make decisions without considering God. It is pride and self-trust. Trust God; He is in your life to stay and will direct your steps towards a greater life than you can imagine.
(iv) We give God the first portion of our income. The Bible states in 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.” Tithing is in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus endorsed it. Giving is a test. God does not need your money; He desires your heart.
Few things are as valued as money. Do you love God more than money and possessions? Your tithing record reveals the answer.
Honestly, you cannot afford to keep God’s tithe. You will never get out of debt or save money if your first action each pay day is to rob God. Give God the first 10 percent of your income. Perhaps God was first in your life at some point, but that is no longer true. You may have placed someone or something else on the throne of your heart. Other priorities have crept in. The deceitfulness of sin seduced you. Pride filled your heart.
You can change this today. Repent of this sin and make God first in your life again. Return to your first love! The Bible says in Revelation 2:4–5: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
I invite you to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is your Lord and Saviour. Then you shall be saved.
May God bless you all.
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