Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, we are living in a world that is good to look out for “Number 1”. A society that is for me, myself and I with no assistance or help from anyone and yes not even God.
I’m afraid this world is putting God on the backburner not considering He is the King of the Universe, the Creator of this world. Some have their priority mixed up when it comes to putting God first.
How are they putting God on the backburner? I remember riding to church on a Sunday morning, and you would see some people washing their cars or mowing the yard, painting the outside of their house, fixing their cars and not spending that time going to someone’s church.
I don’t know about you, but my two brothers and sister grew up going to church every Sunday. Yes, my mama drugged us to church. She would say, “the only time when you don’t go to church is either you’re sick or working somewhere.” Yes, there have been times I couldn’t go to church because I worked the midnight shift on some jobs and stayed home and get some sleep.
While in the study of this message, here are three points, three suggestions on how and why we should put God first.
The first thing in putting God first is to:
I.INVEST TIME WITH GOD. There’s a very important commandment Jesus gave us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all with all your soul and with all your mind...” Matthew 2:37.
We ALL must invest time totally with God being devoted to Him not holding anything back.
The next thing we all can and must do to keep God first is:
II.KEEP FREE FROM IDOLATRY. In all forms, an idol is anything that replaces God. Now in 1 John 5:21 is a strict warning, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” When Gideon demolished the altar of Baal and
chopped the Asherah Pole (Judges 6:25-27), we all too must tear down those idols that we may still have in our lives and dedicate ourselves “Living Sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) to God and in that put Him first!
The third thing to do when putting God first is to:
III.FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS During the life and ministry of Jesus, He dedicated His entire life totally to the will of the Father. Jesus lived a totally submissive life according to the four Gospels. By submission to the Father’s will, by serving others and in prayer no matter if it is early in the morning or during the night. Here’s a good example of how Jesus dedicated Himself even at a time when He was battling within Himself on the fate of His own death. In the Garden, Jesus was faced unthinkable agony and that’s when he prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done...” Luke 22:42. Putting God first the way Jesus did shows true dedicating as He spent time with the Father. Jesus even said Himself “truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For what the Father does, that the Son does likewise” John 5:16. It clear that Jesus’ disciples are not simply to refrain from the pursuit of temporal things as their primary goal to differentiate themselves from pagans. Instead, they are to replace such pursuits with goals of far greater significance.
D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 181.
According to bloomburg.com, they listed the top 500 billionaires in the world. Among the richest are from right here in the United States. Here are a few you may be familiar with:
Mark Zuckerburg in Technology.
Jerry Jones in Entertainment.
Charles Schwab in Finance.
Rupert Murdoc in Media & Telecom
Steven Spielberg in Entertainment (Movies)
Mark Cuban one of the sharks on tv’s “Shark Tank” in Technology.
The Bible does have a lot to say about being rich but there are warnings to those who are rich.
17 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy”. 1Timothy 6: 17. In other words, tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money. Money cannot be trusted. They should put their trust in God. He gives us all we need for our happiness.
The phrase “God first” or “just put God first” is usually used by an unbeliever. If you have ever watched an award ceremony many people say, “God comes first.” But many times, it was wickedness that got them that award. Was God first? Was He first when they were living in rebellion?
Your God might have been first. The false god in your mind that allows you to live in rebellion, but not the God of the Bible. You can't put God first if you're not saved.
Every breath you take, every move you make it is all for the Glory of God, God first.
When you sit down to get ready to eat, God’s first because He deserve to be first not because of what does for you but because He is God and there’s no other beside Him.
No matter what these four consecrated walls do outside, if you are walking, talking, eating, resting, laughing, exercising God’s always first.
Colossians 1:17 tells us that, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together”.
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Putting-God-First
Question, are you loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
If your answer is no, then you leave you with some advice from Oswald Chambers, “Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God.”
Let’s put it in the prospective from the Word of God in Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” There are rewards in putting God first in our lives and with rewards like that, how could anyone say no to that.
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Putting-God-First
2000 years ago, God came down in the form of man. He was fully God. Only God can die for the sins of the world. He was fully man. He lived the perfect life that man can't live. Jesus paid your fine in full. Someone had to die for sin and on the cross God died.
Jesus took our place and for those who repent and trust in Christ alone for salvation they will be saved. God no longer sees your sin, but He sees the perfect merit of Christ. Repentance is not work. God grants us repentance. Repentance is the result of true faith in Jesus Christ.
When you truly believe on Christ you will be a new creation with new desires for Christ. You won't desire to live in sin. He becomes your life. I'm not talking about sinless perfection. I'm not saying you won't struggle with sinful thoughts, desires, and habits, but God is going to work in you to conform you into the image of Christ. There will be a change in you.
Putting God first speaks volumes in all our everyday lives no matter who we are. But I love it the way Apostle Paul said it best when he wrote under the Holy Spirit, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church” Ephesians 1:22
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Putting-God-First
What about you dear friends? Have you place Christ first in your lives? I mainly talking to the ones who has not except Christ as Lord of your life. Is that job or career number one in your life?
What about that next high you’re looking for when you smoke that crack pipe or drink that liquor or whatever thing that’s keeping you up all night long just trying to get that next hit?
Young lady, is what you doing to your body to get that paper, by selling your body and soul just wasting away?
What about you cheating husband, cheating wife? Is it worth it going to that hotel/motel or being a man or women and placing Christ first?
Say, what about the one who wants to end your life because of what had happened to you? I’ve been there wanting to end my life as a teen simply because things were getting rough. My cousin Natalie saved my life in a letter she wrote to me that made me change my mind. Now, next to my beautiful wife Vanessa, God is first in our lives.
Now, how about you?
Trust God and let Him be first in every part of your lives.
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established”
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Putting-God-First
First things first, put God first.... AMEN.
