Putting God first

Materialism is the modern world’s number one idol! Envy and greed are disgusting expressions of this idolatry. The Bible clearly tells us not to worship any other God than the one true and living God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To help us to give God his rightful place in our lives the word of God teaches us to pay one tenth of our income, our crop etc.

Give God what belongs to God - the tithe!

Jesus was once asked if it was right to pay taxes to the Roman occupying-forces. Some religious leaders wanted to trap him in words in order to use his answer to incite the nationalists against him or to accuse him of rebellion against the Romans. Jesus, who understood what they were trying to do, gave them this excellent answer:

“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matt.22:21)

When the Jews heard this answer, they understood at once what he meant by giving God what is God’s. In the Law of Moses they had had clear teaching about the first fruits and the tithe which belonged to God. This was done to teach the people to put God first in their lives.

Put God first!

Jesus taught the disciples that they could not serve two masters. Our loyalty will be where our heart is, we will follow that to which we have given our first love. Where our treasure is there will our heart be. Where we give our money, how we use our money, will show where our heart is. He who joyfully gives of his means to God’s kingdom shows that God comes first.

In the Old Testament we find teaching about bringing the first fruits to God so that he should take first place in everyday life:

You are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. (Exod.13:12)

This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons. (Exod.13:15)

“When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.” (Lev.23:10)

“Bring the best of the first fruits of the soil to the house of the Lord your God.” (Exod.23:19)

“You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.” (Num.18:29)

“By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter;” (Num.18:32)

All these rules have as their aim to train God’s people to put God first in all things:

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him. (Deut.8:5-6)

Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. (Deut.14:23)

It is important to notice that the people were taught to put God first by giving the best to God as a first fruit - before they took anything for themselves. God deserves this first place for it is he who gives us life. When we receive our income or harvest the fruit of our labours we should always give God his rightful share first. Of course, we give God the best we have when we give, or offer, anything to him.

Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about food or clothes or other necessary material things. He said that if God had first place in our lives he would take care of us and give us all we needed.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt.6:33)

Exercise:

Have you started to pay the tithe of everything? If not start now!

Continue to memorise and add this verse:

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. (2.Cor. 9:8)