PUT GOD FIRST ALWAYS
Memorise:
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. .. Proverbs 3:9
Read:
1 Kings 17:7-16
Message
One of the things I have discovered about God in my little walk with Him is that He wants to be your priority at all times. He said in Matthew 6:33 that you should seek His kingdom and righteousness first. In Psalm 10:4, the Bible describes those who do not seek God and have Him in their thoughts as proud. In Deuteronomy 26:2, God said that your very first harvest should be given to Him. He wants to be your number one or nothing at all to you. In fact, one of His names is 'Jealous' (Exodus 34:14).
Now, when God sees that you always put Him first and you have honoured Him, then He will begin to work out a befitting reward for you. In Proverbs 3:9-10, the Bible says: "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine". In our Bible reading for today, Elijah told the widow of Zarephath to prepare his meal first before making that of herself and her son. Some other women would have said, "Prophet, did you not hear that there is only one meal left? If I prepare that one for you, there Will be nothing left to prepare for me and my son". Instead of saying that, she honoured God in the life of the Prophet in that difficult situation and in return, she never lacked food again. While the entire nation was starving, she had food in abundance. That is what happens when you put God first.
I was in llesha, holding a crusade many years ago when my Professor took my PhD thesis to the external examiner. Normally they post it, but he bought a ticket and took it. If you ask all those who got their PhDs back then, they will tell you that it usually takes months for external examiners to invite PhD candidates for an oral examination. While I was busy in llesha doing the will of God, my Professor took my thesis to the external examiner and said, "I am not going back until you read this". After the external examiner read it, he said "Go and give the boy his PhD". If you do the will of God first. He will take care of all your needs. When you honour Him and put Him first in all you do, what you will get in return will be a multiplication of what you sacrificed for Him.
Bible In One Year:
Zephaniah 1-3
Hymn:
Take My Life And Let It Be
Key Point:
Always put God first
Take my life, and let it be