Day 6 - Put God First

One way to avoid idolatry and to put the Lord first is by honoring Him with our tithe. In fact, Deuteronomy 26:2,10 says that we are to bring the first and the best to the Lord. In the days of Moses, God’s people would present Him with produce or livestock. If a person offered a lamb with a broken leg or an ulcerated, blind eye, he was severely rebuked for putting himself before God. In light of this Old Covenant type and shadow, remember that God wants us to present Him with the first and the best of our increase so we will have no other gods before Him. So put the Lord first by honoring Him with the tithe —the first and the best ten percent. If you choose not to give God the tithe that belongs to Him, don’t think that you will be that much further ahead in your life. When you know about tithing but are hardened, it’s not good for you. Somehow, someway, the devil will steal from you through unexpected expenses, crises, etc. We may think that we cannot afford to give the tithe. But the fact is, we can’t afford not to give the tithe.

The book of Haggai tells us that if we don’t put God first — and that includes honoring the Lord with our tithes — we will have holes in your pocket!

            HAGGAI 1:5-7 - Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourself, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Living with “a bag with holes” can be a serious condition. Just when you pay off the dryer, the refrigerator goes out. When you get the refrigerator fixed, your tires blow out. Then your roof leaks. When you get your roof fixed, the children get sick, and you have to pay their medical bills. The struggle with life becomes a never-ending cycle.

Esteem Earthly Things Lightly. In order to put God first, we have to esteem earthly

things lightly. It’s an absolute qualification for increase in this life. We should put spiritual things above earthly things. God is more interested in changing me than promoting and prospering me.

In the book of Joshua, God told Joshua and the children of Israel to possess all the cities that already belonged to them (Joshua 1:3,4). However, God said that the first one, the city of Jericho, belonged to Him. They were to take all the spoil and offer it as a tithe to the Lord.

JOSHUA 6:18,19 - And you, in any wise keep yourselves from the forbidden thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the forbidden thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

            The Israelites marched around Jericho six days. On the seventh day, they marched around seven times and shouted until the walls fell down. All the spoil was to be presented to the Lord. However, a man named Achan did not esteem earthly things lightly. He kept a part of the first portion for himself: a wedge of gold, two hundred shekels of silver, and a Babylonian garment (Joshua 7:1,21). And because this one man had partaken of the forbidden thing (that which belonged to the Lord), the children of Israel lost the next battle in Ai (Joshua 7:4,5).

When it was discovered what Achan had done, all of Israel took him, his family, and all his belongings — oxen, donkeys, sheep, and tent — to the Valley of Achor. There the Israelites stoned and then burned them all (Joshua 7:24,25). This tragedy happened because Achan coveted the Lord’s portion. He should have put the Lord first. In addition, Proverbs 3:9,10 says, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase: So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.” Put the Lord first by honoring Him with your increase, and He will increase you with the increase of God (Col. 2:19). Matthew 6:33 says that we should seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the natural things we need shall be added unto us. That means if we put the Lord before everything and everyone in our lives, we will receive added increase. What was this author trying to say? Put the Lord before everything, including money. In fact, I want to emphasize that point by saying this: If you pursue money without God and instead of God, you have just tapped into the “root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10), and you are going to get involved in sin.

Pray this: Father, I put you first in every area of my life, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!