“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Matthew 6:33

God First

Some of the most profound and beautiful things in life are simple. Recently God has been speaking to me through just two words: God first.

This Spirit-breathed thought first came to me as I was reading about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. I had read it so many times and almost missed this new and powerful perspective. My default thought was about how Jesus answered every temptation with the Word of God. God’s Word and God’s reign was foremost in His mind and heart. God first. Jesus put God first above all else—above His physical hunger for bread, above His fame or reputation, above all other gods. This was His manner of life.

Like a song you can’t get out of your head those two words colored everything I read, everything I saw, and everything I considered. 

Peter put God first when he surrendered his prized fishing boat so Jesus could use it to teach from. Peter, the seasoned fisherman, put God before his logical reasoning when he let down the net on the other side at Jesus’ word, even though he knew he had fished all night without a single catch. The Shema is a practical call to God first. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Again and again I read examples of putting God first.

Then I heard of a young couple selling their home and dipping into hard earned savings to answer God’s call to ministry. Everything was surrendered to God. God was the priority before finances, before convenience, and before security. I was seeing firsthand what God first looked like.

In my own life I had fallen into a habit of making my coffee first thing in the morning and then drinking it while checking in on Facebook, email, and Twitter. Previously, I had enjoyed that first cup while reading my Bible. I would sometimes spend over an hour on my iPad checking in with these social media outlets. I knew now that I had things upside down and went back to God first. I gave Him priority when my mind was fresh and clear and not cluttered with media “stuff.” What a difference it has made in hearing Him and seeing marvelous things out of His Word. So simple. God first. It’s not a legalistic thing, but I am offering to Him the first fruits, right off the top.

Another example was when my husband wanted to give a rather significant amount of money to a Christian ministry. He asked me to pray about it. My first reaction was that I wanted to give, but that was way too much money. But as God first took hold, I began to see a lack of faith in my thinking. I feared we would not have enough if we gave so much. I was protecting my own security and comfort. Had I ever found God not enough? I gladly agreed to this offering.

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:17-18).

“Father, before all else, You are God. May I live that out daily in how I think, what I do, and the words I speak. You are worthy of my best. You are worthy of my all. I yield all else to Your Lordship. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”