Reordering Finances: Prioritizing God and Others First
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound relationship between our finances and our spiritual lives. We began by acknowledging the common order in which most people handle their money: spending, paying off debt, paying taxes, saving, and finally, giving. This sequence often reflects a "me first" mentality, where God and others receive only the leftovers. However, Jesus challenges us to flip this script, urging us to prioritize giving and others first, aligning our financial practices with the values of His kingdom.
Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This principle highlights the connection between our financial decisions and our spiritual devotion. Our money's direction reveals our affection, showing what truly holds our attention and passion. By examining our spending habits, we can discern where our heart truly lies. Jesus isn't after our money; He desires our hearts. By allowing Him to guide our financial decisions, we invite Him into our lives in a tangible way.
The call to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" is an invitation to reorder our priorities. In God's kingdom, others come first, and what's best for others is what's right. This doesn't mean living irresponsibly or giving everything away, but rather reprioritizing our finances to reflect God's values. By giving first, saving second, and living on the rest, we open the door to God's involvement in our financial future, finding peace, joy, and purpose.
This approach is not just about financial security but about true financial freedom. By choosing a percentage of our income to give and save, we guard against greed and ensure that our money serves us, not the other way around. This simple model—give, save, live—can transform our financial lives and our hearts, leading to a deeper devotion to God and a more meaningful life.
Key Takeaways:
1. Reordering Priorities: Jesus calls us to flip the script on our financial priorities, putting God and others first. This shift from "me first" living to "others first" living aligns our financial practices with the values of God's kingdom. [05:36]
2. Heart and Treasure Connection: Our financial decisions reveal where our heart truly lies. By examining our spending, we can discern our true affections and align them with God's desires. Jesus isn't after our money; He wants our hearts. [06:39]
3. Seek First the Kingdom: Jesus invites us to seek His kingdom first, which means prioritizing others and doing what's right for them. This reordering of priorities leads to a life of peace, joy, and purpose. [09:32]
4. Give, Save, Live: This simple financial model—give first, save second, live on the rest—opens the door to God's involvement in our financial future. It guards against greed and ensures that our money serves us, not the other way around. [12:01]
5. Internal Resistance: Pay attention to the internal resistance you feel when considering giving first. This resistance often reveals deeper issues beyond money, inviting us to examine our true priorities and affections. [15:19]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to Money Conversations
- [00:32] - The Importance of Budgeting
- [01:09] - Humor and Money Management
- [03:01] - Aligning Money with Jesus' Teachings
- [03:54] - Five Things You Can Do with Money
- [04:54] - Me First Living and Leftover Giving
- [05:36] - Flipping the Script
- [06:27] - Heart and Treasure Connection
- [07:09] - Jesus' Call for Devotion
- [09:32] - Seek First the Kingdom
- [10:25] - Invitation to a New Kingdom
- [12:01] - Give, Save, Live Model
- [14:07] - Guarding Against Greed
- [15:19] - Internal Resistance and Discovery
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
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#### Observation Questions
1. What are the five things mentioned in the sermon that people typically do with their money? [03:54]
2. How does Jesus' teaching about where our treasure is relate to our financial decisions? [05:36]
3. What is the simple financial model proposed in the sermon, and what are its components? [12:01]
4. What internal resistance might people experience when considering giving first, according to the sermon? [15:19]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the order in which we handle our finances reflect our spiritual priorities, according to the sermon? [05:08]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our financial decisions reveal our true affections and priorities? [06:39]
3. How does the concept of "seeking first the kingdom" challenge conventional financial priorities? [09:32]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between financial freedom and spiritual devotion? [12:23]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current financial priorities. How do they align with the "give, save, live" model proposed in the sermon? What changes might you consider making? [12:01]
2. Consider a recent financial decision you made. What did it reveal about your heart and priorities? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [06:39]
3. What internal resistance do you feel when thinking about giving a percentage of your income first? How can you address this resistance? [15:19]
4. How can you practically "seek first the kingdom" in your financial life this week? What specific steps can you take to prioritize others and God's kingdom? [09:32]
5. Identify one area in your life where you can practice putting others first financially. What action will you take this week to make that happen? [10:25]
6. How can you involve God more tangibly in your financial decisions? What might change in your life if you did? [10:54]
7. Think of a time when you felt financial stress. How might adopting the "give, save, live" model help alleviate that stress? [12:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Reordering Financial Priorities for Kingdom Living
In our daily lives, financial decisions often follow a pattern that prioritizes personal needs and desires. This "me first" mentality can lead to a lifestyle where God and others receive only what is left over. However, Jesus challenges us to reverse this order, encouraging us to place giving and others at the forefront of our financial practices. By doing so, we align our actions with the values of His kingdom, which emphasizes selflessness and generosity. This shift is not about neglecting personal responsibilities but about reordering priorities to reflect a heart that seeks God's kingdom first. [05:36]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: Consider your current financial priorities. What is one specific change you can make this week to put God and others first in your financial decisions?
Day 2: The Heart's Affection Revealed Through Finances
Our financial choices are a window into our hearts, revealing what we truly value and prioritize. Jesus taught that our treasure and our heart are intrinsically linked, meaning that where we invest our resources, our affections will follow. By examining our spending habits, we can gain insight into what holds our attention and passion. Jesus is not interested in our money for its own sake; He desires our hearts and devotion. Allowing Him to guide our financial decisions invites Him into our lives in a meaningful way, transforming our relationship with both money and God. [06:39]
Luke 12:34 (ESV): "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Reflection: Look at your recent spending. What does it reveal about your true affections, and how can you realign them with God's desires?
Day 3: Seeking the Kingdom First
The call to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" is an invitation to reorder our lives according to God's priorities. In His kingdom, others come first, and doing what is right for them is paramount. This does not mean living irresponsibly or giving everything away, but rather making intentional choices that reflect God's values. By prioritizing others and seeking what is best for them, we find a life filled with peace, joy, and purpose. This reordering of priorities is a journey towards a deeper relationship with God and a more meaningful existence. [09:32]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can prioritize others this week. How can this shift bring you closer to living out God's kingdom values?
Day 4: Embracing the Give, Save, Live Model
The simple financial model of "give first, save second, live on the rest" offers a path to true financial freedom. By choosing a percentage of our income to give and save, we protect ourselves from greed and ensure that our money serves us, not the other way around. This approach invites God's involvement in our financial future, providing peace and security. It is not just about financial stability but about aligning our hearts with God's purposes, leading to a life of deeper devotion and fulfillment. [12:01]
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 percentage of your income can you commit to giving and saving this month? How can this decision transform your financial life and spiritual journey?
Day 5: Overcoming Internal Resistance to Generosity
When considering the idea of giving first, many experience internal resistance. This resistance often points to deeper issues beyond money, such as fear, insecurity, or misplaced priorities. By paying attention to these feelings, we can uncover what truly holds us back from living generously. This process invites us to examine our hearts and align our affections with God's desires. Embracing generosity is not just about financial giving but about opening our lives to God's transformative work, leading to greater freedom and joy. [15:19]
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Reflect on any resistance you feel towards giving. What underlying issues might be contributing to this, and how can you address them with God's help?
Quotes
"Life is not just a race to accumulate the most, you're gonna leave it all behind anyway. Then last time in session two, we said that if our money could talk, it would probably remind us, 'The moment you think you own me, well I actually own you.'" [00:03:16]
"First we spend, number two we pay off debt, number three, we pay our taxes, number four, we save, and if there's any left over, well, we might give some away. These are the five things you can do with money, and for the majority of people, that's the order in which they're done." [00:04:19]
"Where your treasure is, your treasure is your stuff, it's your money, it's your hopes, it's your dreams, but it's your physical stuff. And Jesus says wherever your physical treasure is, your heart follows. And he wasn't trying to shame us, he was actually just giving us a principle, a fact of life." [00:05:43]
"Jesus isn't after your money, right, what's he after? He's after your heart. And the best way for your savior and your heavenly father to take possession of your heart is to allow him to take possession of how you manage your money." [00:07:03]
"Spending almost everything on you or saving it for your future, that's actually irresponsible, in light of the fact that it's not even yours to begin with. So this isn't about having nothing, it's about reprioritizing everything. Here's how Jesus put it. 'But seek first.'" [00:09:15]
"Jesus taught throughout his ministry that what's right for other people, is what's right, that what's best for other people, Well, that's what's best. So Jesus says, 'Here's what I want you to do. I want you to turn that list upside down. And I want you to put God and others first.'" [00:09:57]
"Simply put, give first, save second, pay your taxes, repay your debt, and then live on what's left over. Yep, you get the leftovers. Now, let me make this even simpler for you. Here's the system, I would love for you to embrace. I've been teaching this for over 20 years." [00:11:39]
"Give, save, live on the rest. This is how you throw open the door to God's involvement in your financial future. And I'm telling you, rich people, poor people, everybody in between. This is the key to financial security. This is how you live responsibly." [00:12:14]
"Pick a percentage of your income ahead of time, and then give it away as soon as you get it. Whatever the percentage is, and I'm not even gonna make a suggestion. You pick that percentage, whatever it is, talk to your spouse, talk to your friends, family members, but choose a percentage." [00:12:57]
"Give first, save second, live on the rest. Now, one last thing, I want you to pay close attention to the internal tension this creates inside of you. In other words, when you start thinking about giving away a percentage of your money and giving away a percentage of your money first, it's gonna begin perhaps a little battle on the inside of you." [00:14:18]
"Why am I resisting this? Why am I resisting this? Really, I want you to listen to the excuses. You're telling yourself and then I want you to just give anyway. And what you might discover is this, that your resistance, it's not really about money. It's about something else." [00:15:24]
"When you choose to put God first in a tangible way, in a way that's measurable, in a way that actually feels like it's costing you something, everything begins to change. Jesus was clear, the litmus test and this is hard for us. The litmus test of our devotion to God, is our willingness to put him first, in the arena of our money and our possessions." [00:16:27]
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