Giving God the First as Worship | Pastor Joel King

Jul 05, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Who Bought the Fries?

The child clutching "their" fries mirrors our forgetfulness that every blessing flows from God’s hand. Life, breath, opportunities—all gifts from the Provider who asks us to acknowledge His ownership. When we resent releasing even a portion back to Him, we echo the toddler’s cry of "mine," blind to the One who purchased the feast. Giving begins not with obligation but with remembering whose tray holds the fries. [00:50]

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."
(1 Chronicles 16:29, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you recently felt resistance to releasing something to God? How might viewing it as His gift shift your grip?

Day 2: Tithing Before Rules

Abram gave a tenth not because he had to, but because Melchizedek helped him see God’s hand in the victory. The tithe here is raw worship—a shout of "You did this!" before any law demanded it. Like Abram surveying plundered goods, we’re called to trace our blessings back to their Source, not our striving. True giving starts when we stop auditing God’s requests and start applauding His provision. [11:23]

"Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
(Genesis 14:20b, ESV)

Reflection: What specific victory or provision in your life have you yet to acknowledge as God’s work? How could giving reflect that recognition?

Day 3: Sleeping on Stones, Trusting for Tomorrow

Jacob vowed a tenth while homeless, using a rock as a pillow. His giving wasn’t from abundance but dependence—a vow that said "If You feed me, I’ll remember it’s You." In seasons of lack or uncertainty, our offerings become declarations: "I trust Your next meal more than my last dollar." The stone pillow became an altar when paired with forward-looking faith. [24:50]

"Then Jacob vowed a vow, saying, 'If God will... give me bread to eat and clothing to wear... then the Lord shall be my God... And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.'"
(Genesis 28:20-22, ESV)

Reflection: What current uncertainty makes giving feel risky? How might offering anyway affirm God’s faithfulness beyond your circumstances?

Day 4: The Greater Priest & the Better Blessing

Melchizedek’s mysterious priesthood points to Jesus—the eternal High Priest who needs no tithe but deserves all. Hebrews reveals that when we give, we’re not funding heaven’s budget but bowing to Christ’s worthiness. Every dollar given echoes Abram’s tenth: a tribute to the King-Priest who blessed us first through the cross. [30:26]

"See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!"
(Hebrews 7:4, ESV)

Reflection: How does Jesus’ role as your permanent Priest-King deepen your motivation to give beyond mere obedience?

Day 5: Firstfruits, Not Leftovers

Leftover giving asks "What can I spare?" Firstfruit giving declares "You’re first." Like Abram refusing Sodom’s wealth, prioritizing God’s portion guards our hearts from false providers. When we give initial fruits—not final crumbs—we train our appetites to crave the Giver over the gift. The plate set before us is always His; our privilege is to pass the first fry joyfully. [35:18]

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."
(Proverbs 3:9, ESV)

Reflection: What practical step could help you shift from residual giving to intentional firstfruit offering this week?

Sermon Summary

The fries on the tray expose a childlike reflex that says mine, while the Giver who bought the fries asks for a small tribute that recognizes what already came from his hand. Before the law ever codified a tithe, the Scriptures show a tenth as a heart response. The tithe is not first a cold rule. It is worship, gratitude, and trust flowing back to the God who provides, protects, sustains, and delivers.

Abraham steps onto the page after a rescue mission. He defeats the eastern kings, recovers Lot and the plunder, and then meets two kings. Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, brings bread and wine and blesses him. More than that, Melchizedek interprets the victory. Abraham fought, but God delivered. Abraham pursued, but God was the source of success. So Abraham gives a tenth of everything, not to pay a tax and not to buy favor, but to say with his goods what his lips confess. God is the One who gave the victory. Then the king of Sodom offers riches. Abraham refuses so that no one can say, I made Abram rich. The tithe and the refusal belong together. The first declares that God provided. The second guards the testimony that God alone will get the credit. Tithing is not merely about what is given. It is about who is trusted.

Jacob’s tenth sounds different. He is not flush with plunder. He is running scared, head on a stone, far from home. God meets him at Bethel, promises presence, protection, and a future. Jacob vows, If God keeps me, feeds me, clothes me, and brings me back, then all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you. Abraham looks back and says, God delivered me. Jacob looks ahead and says, God must sustain me. Both belong. Sometimes the tenth is gratitude after the battle. Sometimes it is trust for the journey.

Hebrews 7 takes Melchizedek’s quiet cameo and points beyond it. Melchizedek’s name says righteousness and his city says peace. He blesses Abraham, and the lesser is blessed by the greater. That line points straight to Jesus. If Melchizedek was great, Jesus is greater. If Melchizedek blessed Abraham, Jesus blesses his people forever as the eternal High Priest. So giving does not merely answer to material provision. It answers to the greatest gift God has given in his Son.

Leftover giving says, God, you can have what remains. First and best giving says, God, you are the source, you are the security, you are Lord. The real question is not Do I have to tithe, but Who bought the fries and who gets the first and best.

Key Takeaways

1. God bought the fries The reflex that clutches at mine melts when the source is remembered. Gratitude grows where entitlement dies. The tenth begins as a confession with dollars and days that the Possessor of heaven and earth provided first. The better question is not Do I have to, but Have I forgotten who bought the fries. [05:36]
2. Abram gives from delivered victory Abraham’s tenth arrives after bread, wine, and a blessing that names God as Deliverer. The gift is not payment for favor but recognition of it. Worship answers grace with open hands, not bargaining chips. The tenth says out loud, God gave the win. [11:23]
3. Sodom’s riches refused for witness Refusal keeps the story clean about who provides. When easy enrichment would muddle the credit line, faith lets it pass so God’s name stays first on the ledger. Dependence that says no is as much worship as a generous yes. [15:09]
4. Jacob vows trust in exile The vow rises from fear, hunger, and a stone pillow, not abundance. Need wakes up dependence, and dependence plans generosity ahead of provision. Forward-looking trust says, All that you give me, a tenth is yours, because every bite will be from your hand. [21:05]
5. Jesus, the greater High Priest Melchizedek previews a priesthood that outstrips Levi, and Jesus fulfills it forever. If Abraham honored the lesser light, how much more should hearts honor the One who blesses eternally. Giving answers not just to goods on the table but to the grace that saved the soul. [30:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - The french fry tax
[03:03] - Where this series is heading
[04:17] - What a tithe means
[05:56] - Tithe as a heart response
[06:44] - Abram’s rescue mission
[08:07] - Melchizedek blesses and interprets
[11:23] - Abram’s tenth as worship
[13:15] - Sodom’s offer and refusal
[18:18] - Jacob on the run
[21:05] - Jacob’s vow and the tenth
[25:32] - Hebrews 7 and Melchizedek
[30:26] - Jesus the greater High Priest
[31:32] - First and best, not leftovers

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Genesis 14:18-20 (ESV)
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 28:20-22 (ESV)
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Hebrews 7:1-10 (ESV)
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God... See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!... It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

Observation Questions

What two actions did Abraham take after Melchizedek blessed him and interpreted his victory (Genesis 14:18-20)?
How did Jacob’s vow in Genesis 28:20-22 differ from Abraham’s response in Genesis 14?
According to Hebrews 7:1-10, why is Melchizedek’s priesthood greater than the Levitical priesthood?
What example was given in the sermon to illustrate the human tendency to claim ownership over what God provides? [00:19]

Interpretation Questions

Why did Abraham refuse the king of Sodom’s offer of wealth after giving a tenth to Melchizedek? What does this teach about guarding God’s reputation as our provider? [15:09]
Jacob made his vow to tithe while fleeing in fear and uncertainty. How does his situation highlight the relationship between dependence on God and generosity? [21:05]
Hebrews 7 argues that Jesus’ priesthood surpasses Melchizedek’s. How does this truth elevate the purpose of giving for Christians compared to Abraham’s act? [30:26]
The sermon contrasts “leftover giving” and “first and best giving.” What attitudes of the heart does each approach reveal? [33:11]

Application Questions

Abraham’s tithe declared, “God gave the win.” What specific victory or blessing has God given you recently that you could acknowledge through generosity?
Jacob vowed to give a tenth before seeing God’s provision. Where in your life do you need to trust God’s faithfulness ahead of visible security? How could planning generosity now strengthen that trust?
Refusing Sodom’s riches kept Abraham’s testimony “clean.” Are there areas (e.g., opportunities, relationships, shortcuts) where saying “no” might protect your reliance on God’s provision?
The sermon asked, “Does my giving show I trust God?” What practical step could you take to prioritize God as “first” in your resources, time, or decisions this week?
How does recognizing Jesus as the “greater High Priest” (Hebrews 7) reshape your motivation for generosity compared to obligation or routine?
When have you felt tempted to treat God’s blessings like “my fries”? What habit or reminder could help you cultivate gratitude over entitlement? [05:36]
The sermon said, “Tithing is not about what we give, but who we trust.” How might adjusting your giving habits reveal deeper areas where God is inviting you to depend on Him?

Sermon Clips

63s

#FirstNotLeftovers

“There's a world of difference between giving God the leftovers and giving God the first and best. Right? It's like it's like, you know, getting your, whatever, your meal, and at the beginning going, hey. Is there something you want versus eating your film going, oh, I'm full. You can have whatever's left. Leftover giving says, God, I will honor you if there's enough after everything else. And by the way, there's never enough because we just keep increasing what we need. First and best giving says, God, I honor you because everything else comes from you. Leftover giving says, God, I trust you after I feel secure. First and best giving says, God, I trust you as my security. Leftover giving says, God, you're part of my life. But first and best giving says, God, you are Lord of my life.”

71s

#HeartOverMoney

“before there was an official rule, the tithe, before it was ever commanded in the law, it was already teaching us a truth that God is worthy of my first and best. God is worthy of my first and best. I'll just be honest with you. He he wants something much more valuable than your money. He wants your heart. He wants your will. He wants your dreams. He wants your future. So if you focus on the money, you'll you you'll miss it. You won't get there. You will you you might actually accomplish giving because you'll feel good about yourself. It'll be a box to check off, but God will not be impressed because the because the the the money, the giving, it could be your time, it could be the way you serve others. It is about your heart. That's what he wants. Not about the stuff itself.”

38s

#GiveBecauseOfChrist

“Because in Christ, we see the fullness of God's blessing. Right? God has not merely given us victory in a battle. He's not merely given us food and clothing for a journey. God has given us his son for the ultimate winning of a battle, for the ultimate satisfaction of our souls. So our giving is not simply a response to material provision, it is a response to the God who has blessed us in the deepest possible way. Alright. So here's the heart of the matter. Alright?”

51s

#GivingReflectsHeart

“Abraham recognized that God gave the victory. Jacob recognized that God would have to provide for the journey. Hebrews points us to Jesus, the greater priest, the greater blessing, and the greater reason for worship. So the question becomes personal. Does my giving reflect gratitude, worship, and trust in God as my provider? Does my giving say, God, you are first. You are the source. I trust you with my future. God, everything I have comes from It comes from you. There's a world of difference between giving God the leftovers and giving God the first and best.”

44s

#TitheShowsTrust

“By giving a tenth to Michalzac, Abraham declares God gave the victory. It wasn't mine. It was his. By refusing the goods of Sodom, he declares God alone will get the credit for my blessing, which by the way, has not completely come. It will, but it's not completely come. So notice this, and this is by the way in your notes on the app. Okay? Tithing is not merely about what we give, it's about who trust. You could just chew on that a while. Tithing is not merely about what we give, it's about who trust.”

42s

#JesusGreaterPriest

“So if Melchizedek was great, Jesus is greater. If Melchizedek blessed Abraham, Jesus blesses his people eternally, even more so. If Melchizedek was priest of God Most High, Jesus is our eternal high priest, and that's what the Bible paints him as. He's right now advocating on my behalf and your behalf before the father. So think about this. If Abraham gave a tenth in response to God's blessing to Melchizedek, how much more should our lives be marked by worship? Gratitude and trust in response to what God has given us in the greater high priest, Christ.”

53s

#RecognizeTheGiver

“God is worthy of my first and best. God is worthy of my first and best. Before the tithe was ever commanded in the law, it appeared as a voluntary of worship, of gratitude, and trust in response to God's blessing. This means our first question should not be, do I have to tithe? I'm not saying it's a bad question. It shouldn't be the first question. The deeper question is, do I recognize God as the giver of everything I have? Because honestly, that's what God cares more about than than you obeying a rule. Is you you understand who's the provider? Do you understand why you have what you have in the first place?”

53s

#GiveGodTheCredit

“Because Abram does not want the king of Sodom to take credit for making him prosper. He wants it clear where his source is. It's clear. That's powerful. That's powerful. How many times do we want something for God and we feel like we've gotta make it happen? The problem with making it happen is we go around taking the credit. Or how many times do we get frustrated because we ask God to do something and he waits until it's evident it's not gonna happen till he does it? Drives me nutty. But it's God's way, at least in my life. It's God's way of reminding me, it was me and not you. Because when he does it early, guess who who takes the credit often? I have nobody to blame but myself.”

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Trinity Church of Sunnyvale This sermon · AI assistant

What is the original purpose of the tithe?

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How should first and best giving differ from leftovers?

Giving God the First as Worship | Pastor Joel King

Devotional

Day 1: Who Bought the Fries?

Day 2: Tithing Before Rules

Day 3: Sleeping on Stones, Trusting for Tomorrow

Day 4: The Greater Priest & the Better Blessing

Day 5: Firstfruits, Not Leftovers

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Giving God the First as Worship | Pastor Joel King

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