Putting God First: A Heartfelt Approach to Finances
Summary
When God is truly first in our lives, every area—including our finances—reflects that priority. The way we handle money is not just a practical matter, but a spiritual one that reveals the true affections of our hearts. God is not after our resources; He is after our devotion, our trust, and our willingness to honor Him above all else. Throughout history, God’s people have been blessed when they put Him first, and have struggled when they relegated Him to an afterthought. The story of Israel in Malachi’s day is a sobering reminder: when God’s people drifted into giving Him their leftovers, the blessing and favor of God was lifted. Yet, God’s promise remains—if we return to Him, He will return to us.
Jesus reinforced this principle, teaching that we cannot serve both God and money. The throne of our hearts is not a duplex; only one can occupy the top spot. The world’s system is to spend, repay debt, pay taxes, save, and then—if anything is left—give to God. But this order closes the door to God’s involvement. Instead, God calls us to flip the script: give joyfully and first, save strategically, spend cautiously, and trust Him to provide. This is not about the amount, but about the heart behind the giving. The widow who gave her last two coins was noticed by Jesus not for the size of her gift, but for the depth of her trust.
God’s challenge is clear: “Test me in this.” When we honor Him first, He promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing. This is not a prosperity gimmick, but a call to trust and obedience. The invitation is to take a step of faith—try it for 90 days, and see what God will do. If there is any doubt about motives, give somewhere else; the point is not where you give, but that you experience the freedom and blessing that comes from putting God first. The enemy fears believers who actually trust God’s word, because it breaks his grip and brings true freedom. My heart is to see you and your family walk in that blessing, peace, and provision that only God can give.
Key Takeaways
- The order of our financial priorities reveals the true affections of our hearts. When God is last in our giving, it’s a reflection that He is last in our hearts, no matter what we say. The way we handle money either opens or closes the door to God’s involvement in our lives. [11:57]
- God’s system is not random; He is a God of order, systems, and priorities. When we align our financial lives with His divine order—putting Him first—we experience blessing, provision, and fulfillment that cannot be manufactured by our own efforts. Ignoring His order leads to unnecessary struggle and frustration. [15:13]
- The real spiritual battle is not between God and evil, but between God and greed. Money has a unique power to grip our hearts, often more than anything else. Jesus made it clear: we cannot serve both God and money, and the one we prioritize will shape our lives and destinies. [26:18]
- Giving is ultimately a matter of the heart, not the amount. Jesus noticed the widow’s two coins because she gave out of her trust and devotion, not her abundance. God is looking for hearts that trust Him fully, and He responds to faith-filled generosity with His favor and presence. [36:47]
- God invites us to test Him by putting Him first in our finances. This is not about enriching a church, but about experiencing the reality of God’s faithfulness. If you have doubts about motives, give somewhere else—the point is to step out in faith, break the grip of fear and greed, and watch God move in your life. [38:25]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Testimonies from Gainesville Work Camp
[02:45] - Voices Revival Announcement
[04:30] - God First Series Recap
[07:00] - Introducing a Faith-First Financial Plan
[11:57] - The World’s Financial Priorities vs. God’s
[15:13] - God’s System and Divine Order
[19:00] - Malachi: Israel’s Drift and God’s Promise
[23:52] - The Heart Behind Giving
[26:18] - The Battle Between God and Greed
[28:22] - Jesus on Worry and Priorities
[29:20] - God’s Faith-First Financial Plan
[34:34] - Jesus Observes the Offering
[36:47] - The Widow’s Gift and God’s Attention
[38:25] - The 90-Day Challenge and Motives
[40:46] - The Enemy’s Fear and Your Freedom
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “God First: A Faith-First Financial Plan”
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### Bible Reading
- Malachi 3:7-12
- Matthew 6:24, 31-33
- Mark 12:41-44
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### Observation Questions
1. In Malachi 3:7-12, what specific actions does God accuse Israel of, and what promise does He make if they return to Him?
2. According to Matthew 6:24, what does Jesus say about serving two masters, and what are the two “masters” He names?
3. In Mark 12:41-44, what did Jesus notice about the widow’s offering compared to the others, and why did He point it out to His disciples?
4. The sermon describes the world’s financial order as “spend, repay debt, pay taxes, save, and then—if anything is left—give to God.” What does the pastor say is the problem with this order? [[11:57]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God care about the order in which we handle our finances, and what does it reveal about our hearts? [[15:13]]
2. The sermon says the real spiritual battle is not between God and evil, but between God and greed. Why is money such a powerful competitor for our devotion? [[26:18]]
3. In the story of the widow’s offering, why did Jesus value her small gift more than the large gifts of the wealthy? What does this teach us about God’s perspective on giving? [[36:47]]
4. The pastor challenges the congregation to “test God” by putting Him first in their finances for 90 days. What is the purpose of this challenge, and how does it connect to God’s promise in Malachi? [[38:25]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says, “The way we prioritize money is how we either open the door to God’s involvement in our lives and our finances, or we close the door.” Looking at your own financial habits, what does the current order of your spending, saving, and giving say about your priorities? [[11:57]]
2. Have you ever found yourself giving God your “leftovers” (time, money, energy) instead of your first and best? What led to that, and how did it affect your sense of God’s presence or blessing? [[19:00]]
3. Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money.” What are some practical ways you can guard your heart against greed and make sure God is truly first? [[26:18]]
4. The widow gave out of her poverty, trusting God with everything. Is there an area of your life where God is asking you to trust Him more deeply, even if it feels risky or costly? [[36:47]]
5. The pastor suggested a 90-day challenge to put God first in your finances. What fears or hesitations might you have about taking this step? What would it look like for you to “test God” in this way? [[38:25]]
6. The sermon says, “If you have doubts about motives, give somewhere else—the point is to step out in faith, break the grip of fear and greed, and watch God move in your life.” How does this perspective change the way you think about giving? [[38:25]]
7. The enemy “fears believers who actually trust God’s word, because it breaks his grip and brings true freedom.” What would true financial freedom look like for you and your family, and what is one step you can take this week toward that? [[40:46]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to reveal any area where He is not first in your life, and for the courage to trust Him fully—especially in your finances. Pray for hearts that are open to His blessing, peace, and provision.
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing God Opens the Door to His Blessing
When we put God first in our finances, we invite His active involvement and blessing into our lives. The way we order our financial priorities—whether God is first or last—reveals the true state of our hearts and determines whether we experience the fullness of His provision. When God is placed last, we close the door to His favor, but when we honor Him first, we swing that door wide open for Him to move powerfully on our behalf. [15:13]
Malachi 3:7-12 (ESV)
"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts."
Reflection: In what specific way can you reorder your financial priorities this week to put God first, not last, and invite His blessing into your life?
Day 2: The Battle Between God and Greed
The real struggle in our hearts is not between good and evil, but between God and greed. Money has a unique power to grip our hearts, influence our decisions, and even become an idol if we are not careful. Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve both God and money—one will always take precedence over the other. The call is to let God occupy the throne of our hearts, trusting Him above all else, and refusing to let greed dictate our lives. [26:18]
Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
Reflection: What is one area where you sense money or material desires competing with God for first place in your heart, and how can you surrender that to Him today?
Day 3: Seek God’s Kingdom First and Trust His Provision
God’s people are called to live differently from the world, seeking His kingdom and righteousness above all else. When we put God first, He promises to provide for all our needs. Worrying about provision is natural, but Jesus invites us to trust our heavenly Father, who knows what we need and delights in caring for us as we prioritize Him. [29:20]
Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek God’s kingdom first in your daily decisions, especially when you feel anxious about your needs?
Day 4: God Honors the Heart, Not the Amount
God is far more interested in the heart behind our giving than the amount we give. Jesus noticed the poor widow who gave all she had, not because of the sum, but because of her faith and trust in Him. When we give sacrificially and joyfully, trusting God with everything, we open our lives to His favor and provision in ways we cannot imagine. [36:47]
Mark 12:41-44 (ESV)
"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.'"
Reflection: Is there an area where God is prompting you to give sacrificially or trust Him more deeply, even if it feels small or costly?
Day 5: Flip the Script—A Faith-First Financial Plan
God’s wisdom for financial stewardship is to give joyfully first, save strategically, and spend cautiously. This faith-first approach is not about legalism but about honoring God and inviting His wisdom and blessing into every area of our lives. When we reprioritize our finances in this way, we experience freedom, balance, and the supernatural provision that comes from putting God first. [29:20]
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."
Reflection: What step can you take this week to “flip the script” in your finances—whether it’s giving first, saving, or spending with greater wisdom—to honor God and trust His provision?
Quotes
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