1 Timothy 6:17
Putting God first is always the right thing to do. So in some sense, God is always telling us to put him first. However, in this article, we are talking about those moments in life where God is emphasizing this command to us in a more intentional way.
Therefore, here are 3 signs God is saying, “Just put me first.”
1. If You Feel Overwhelmed and Confused, God Is Saying, “Just Put Me First”
Should you try harder to find a spouse or are you doing too much? Should you talk to that person about how they offended you or should you just let it go without saying anything? Will your work environment get better if you stick it out for a little longer or is it time to start looking for a new job?
Life is full of so many questions. We want to do the right thing that God wants us to do, but so often we are unsure of what that actually is. When you feel overwhelmed and confused, it’s wise to come back to the simple truths of Scripture that always apply.
By putting God first, you can’t go wrong. Yes, there will still be questions, unknowns, and hard things you will have to deal with. However, when you are right with God, you will have that peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
When God is on the throne of your heart, you will be able to rest in his promises, like Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
2. When You Feel Lost and Alone, God Is Saying, “Just Put Me First”
Relationships with other humans are very good. God made us to need our communities. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Marriage is very good. Remember what God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Having children is very good. Psalm 127:3, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
And yet, all forms of human relationships will leave us feeling empty and alone if we are not first filled with the love of God. Psalm 16:2, “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’” This verse does not mean we should not find joy in other people. Rather, it means that if the Lord is not the first love in our life, no other relationships will be good either. When he is first, however, this causes our love with other people to also flourish.
For as Psalm 16:3 then states, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” How can David say all the good he has is from God (Psalm 16:2) and then immediately say all his delight is in people (Psalm 16:3)? When we are full on God’s love, he empowers us to share that love with others.
Thus, not only do we need God first because his love is supreme, but without God, we can’t have healthy relationships with other people either, which is something God has also made us to need.
As 1 John 4:7-8 explains, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
3. When You Have a Really Strong Desire for Something You Don’t Yet Have, God Is Saying, “Just Put Me First”
How can you long for a spouse without idolizing marriage? How can you pursue a better career without becoming greedy? How can you enjoy God’s gifts without worshiping them?
The way to enjoy lesser blessings is to put God first. By letting go of everything and fully committing your heart to God, you are also then free to properly handle everything God wants to give you.
As Psalm 37:4 explains, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Without first delighting in the Lord, we cannot have what our hearts desire most because at our core we desire God most. When we are delighting in God, we are then free to enjoy other things too without worshiping them and asking too much of them. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-34, which states:
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. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Related Article: How to Put God First in Every Area of Your Life
