God First
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” – Deut. 6:4-5
God made it clear that he wants to be first in the lives of his children, therefore, he commanded them to love him with all they have. Jesus in Mt. 6:33 also put this in another way when he says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
When God is first, he takes priority in every aspect of our lives, and other thing takes the backseat. When God is first, it reflects in our lifestyles because whatever has the first place in our lives drives our decisions and shapes our lives
When God is first in our lives, it will reflect in the following areas;
- In our relationship with God
When God is first, it will show in the way we relate to God. We will make time to fellowship with God in places of worship, in our quiet time and prayers. God yearns to fellowship with his people that is the reason he created man. Jesus primary reason for choosing the 12 disciples is to fellowship with them before sending them to preach (Mk. 3.14). David a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22), made God first despite his busy schedules as a politician, a king, a warrior, a psalmist, a father, a businessman. David prayed three times daily (Ps. 55:17), and praise seven times daily (Ps. 119:154). He brought the ark of God to his city so that people can pray to God (1Chro.13:3). David asked Solomon his son, to make God first because this will guarantee his success in life (1Kg. 2:3-4). Solomon took to his father’s advice and LOVED the lord (2kg 3:3) and His people (2kg. 3:9), and God prospered him more than anyone until his heart departed from God (1kg. 11:4). Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, put God first and prayed for God’s help in getting a wife for Isaac. Eliezer did not depend on his skills and abilities and God answered him (Gen. 24:11-14 & Prov. 3:5-6). Young king Uzziah put God first, and as long as he put God first, he prospered in an unusual way (2chro 26:3-5). When we made God first, we prosper unusually. Someone said making God first is the “Jackpot of life. “
- In our obedience
God wants us to put him first by obeying his instructions whether difficult or not. The children of Israel in the wilderness obeyed and put God first, the Bible says in Num. 9:18 “At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.”
Obeying God is the proof of our love for him (Jn.14:21). Abraham put God first and obeyed Him when he sacrificed Isaac and God blessed him (Gen. 22:16-18) Jesus put God first and obeyed Him to the point of death, and God blessed him with a name that is above every name (Phil. 2:5-12).
- In our resources
When God is first in our lives, it will show in how much of our resources we give to God. We will provide him with the best of our resources of time, talents and treasure and not our leftovers. We honor God when he is first in our resources (Prov.3:9). The Bible is full of examples of those who put God first in their resources. People like David, Solomon, Dorcas, Lazarus and his sisters and the women who ministered to Jesus with their resources (Lk.8:1-3). God wants us to put him first in our giving of our tithes and offering so that he can bless us back (Mal. 3:: 8-12)
- In relating to others
When God is first in our lives, it will affect our lifestyles and we can no longer be the same. Because God was first in Abraham’s life; he refused to take the goods offered to him by the king of Sodom, revealing God as the source of his prosperity (Gen. 14:21-23). David refused to kill Saul (1Sam.24:6, 26:9, 2Sam. 1:13-16). Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:7-10). Someone who has made God first, when relating with people, check with God before acting, like Paul, he will ask Jesus “what will thou have me to do” (Acts 9:6a) or in another way will ask, What Will Jesu Do in this situation (WWJD). He will help those in need without being asked, like Abraham who rescued Lot. He will help others to be successful, like Daniel who helped his friends and like Jonathan helped David (Dan. Dan. 2:48 & 1Sam 20-23) without being envious.
When we make God first in our lives, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. God anoints us, makes us bold and unique. God gives us his supernatural baking to confront the Goliath others are running from.
Making God first is an individual decision. This month God is asking us to make him first so that he can bless us (Mt.6:33, & Ps. 81:11-16). Welcome to May our month of God First.
Pastor Tope Dosumu