First Things First

Children will do anything to be first in line; I’m not sure that we ever really grow out of it; we have an infatuation with first (best, strongest, tallest, prettiest)

I hate to admit it, but I have to be very intentional when I drive. It really bugs me when people drive like there’s no one else on the road. I struggle with letting people speed past me and cut in on me. You’ve been there right?

I believe all of us can relate in some capacity. We want to be first.

And this insatiable desire we have to be first is not healthy for us. It gets us in trouble.

Always putting “me” first in relationships gets me in trouble (with my spouse, with my friends, with my co-workers, with those around me)

Always putting “me” first in feelings gets me in trouble

Always putting “me” first in finances gets me in trouble (I buy what I want, when I want it)

Most importantly… Putting “me” first isn’t biblical!

We’ve been in this series “The Art of Holding Things Loosely.” This is all about Biblical Stewardship. The idea that we are not owners - but we are stewards of the incredible gifts that God has given us. And the trouble that we often run into is mistaking ourselves for owners (Gripping things tightly) instead of stewards (Holding things loosely).

But before we get to what I’d like to share with you this morning, we have to lay the foundation that God must be first. Here’s the thing - Him being first in ALL THINGS isn’t contingent on whether or not you place Him there. He doesn’t need you to put Him first in order for Him to be first. He’s first, but we need to recognize the He’s first. Not only do we need to recognize that He’s first, we must act like, make decisions like, live like God is first.

Relationships

God wants us to make Him our most important relationship - He wants us to put him first. And in fact, He deserves it.

Relationships

God wants to be our most important relationship - He wants us to put him first.

When we put God first... it means that we move to 2nd place. When we put God first, and then put others 2nd... it means we move to 3rd place. That’s difficult.

God should be first in our lives - before ourselves, before our spouse, before our kids, before our best friend.

Friends

(NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

New Living Translation Chapter 3

Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

and he will show you which path to take.

Wealth

God wants to be first in our finances, possessions, & stuff

Proverbs 3:9–10 NLT

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”

“You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. You must give me your firstborn sons.” - Abraham & Isaac; Jesus

New Living Translation Chapter 23

As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God.

“You must give me your firstborn sons.

 “As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God.”

“You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Genesis 4 NLT

Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!” The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son. Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents. His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute. Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal-cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain had a sister named Naamah. One day Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; listen to me, you wives of Lamech. I have killed a man who attacked me, a young man who wounded me. If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!” Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth, for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name.

Genesis

New Living Translation Chapter 4

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

How we manage our wealth reflects our view of God

How we manage our wealth reflects our view of God

New Living Translation Chapter 8

So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

2 Corinthians 8:6–9 NLT

So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Let me wrap up with this: God made you his first priority. Jesus made you his first priority. The Holy Spirit puts you first. We don’t have to take a number. We don’t have to wait in line. We don’t have to sit on hold. We don’t have to listen to the elevator music while we wait. We have direct access. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit makes us His priority.

Let me wrap up with this: God made you his first priority. Jesus made you his first priority. The Holy Spirit puts you first. We don’t have to take a number. We don’t have to wait in line. We don’t have to sit on hold. We don’t have to listen to the elevator music while we wait. We have direct access. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit makes us His priority.

and with the best part of everything you produce.

10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,

and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Giving

Possessions

Let me wrap up with this: God made you his first priority. Jesus made you his first priority. The Holy Spirit puts you first. We don’t have to take a number. We don’t have to wait in line. We don’t have to sit on hold. We don’t have to listen to the elevator music while we wait. We have direct access. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit makes us His priority.

Shouldn’t we make Him ours?

In fact, that’s what the entire Biblical narrative is all about. But if I had to pick a passage of scripture to illustrate the point, it’s

Philippians 2:3–8 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

I’d like to end with this. This area is open for you to come forward in an act of submission; an act of obedience; in an act of confession. God, in every aspect of my life, I need to make sure you are FIRST.