First Things First
When your salary lands in your bank account, what is the first thing that shouts for your attention?
Let's be completely honest: when it comes to money, many of us have already made up our minds. Some are faithful tithers, others believe giving is strictly an Old Testament concept, and others simply wait to see if they have anything left over at the end of the month.
But when God says, "Test me in this" (Malachi 3:10), He is making an incredible promise about our provision and our trust. To launch our new series on biblical finance, we are not starting with a specific percentage or a guilt-driven offering. We are starting with a single, foundational word: First.
In this message from Proverbs 3:9–10, the opening sermon in our Test Me In This series, I explore why the order of your priorities tells the true story of your heart:
The First Reveals the Heart: Money is highly spiritual. What you value the most naturally pulls your heart in that direction (Matthew 6:21).
The First Requires Faith: It is easy to calculate what is left over at the end of the month. Giving your first, however, requires raw faith: trusting the Promise Keeper before you see how the rest of the month will work out.
The First Consecrates the Rest: Honouring God with your first fruit is a declaration that the entirety of your life is under His ultimate Lordship.
He Gave His Best First: Christianity does not begin with our giving; it begins with His. God did not wait for us to prove ourselves. He gave His absolute best, His Son, while we were still sinners.
"If God is truly Lord over your life, then He cannot merely be your emergency contact when everything else fails."
This week, take a completely honest look at the automatic priorities set up in your life. Does God get your best, or does He get whatever survives the noise of your direct debits?
Watch or Listen Now
Watch the full message at the top of this page, or press play on the audio player to listen on the go, and discover how to confidently put God first in every area of your life.
This is Part 1 of Test Me In This. Subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss the rest of the series, or join us on a Sunday at 9am or 11am at All Nations Community Church, Wythenshawe.
