Faith First – Why Honoring God Changes Everything
I’ve said it on the show. The single most important decision you will ever make in this life is to put Jesus Christ first. Not second. Not when it’s convenient. First. Everything else including your marriage, your family, your finances, your work, and your future flows from that one choice.
When you honor God and give Him the glory first, He se sets your path straight. Proverbs 3:6 still stands: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” That’s not a nice suggestion. It’s a promise. But it only works when you actually do it. Too many people treat God like a slot machine. They pray when they want something, drop a few dollars in the plate on Sunday, and then wonder why the blessing never shows up.
That’s not how his Kingdom works. The Bible is crystal clear: you reap what you sow. Galatians 6:7-9 doesn’t play games, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Think about the farmer again. He doesn’t stand in the middle of a bare field praying for a bumper crop while doing nothing. He breaks up the hard ground. He plants the seed. He pulls the weeds. He waters and waits. Then he prays like his life depends on it, because it does.
Sowing seeds is the bridge between faith and blessing. You can’t skip the work and still expect the harvest. When you put Jesus first, it doesn’t just improve your “spiritual life”, it makes you a better person in every relationship. That’s because your life is no longer centered on you; it’s centered on Christ.
Generosity, kindness, integrity, and self-control start showing up naturally when the Holy Spirit is in charge. Now let’s talk about tithing and giving. Yes, you should tithe. Ten percent of your income belongs to the Lord that principle is all through Scripture. But I’m not here to beat you over the head with a legalistic rule. God doesn’t need your money. Give what you can because more importanty He wants your heart:
2 Corinthians 9:7 says it plain: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Cheerful! That’s the key. Tithing is just the starting point. There are so many other ways to sow seeds in His name:
- Helping the widow down the street with groceries or yard work
- Donating to a solid ministry or charity that honors Jesus and actually helps people
- Giving an extra offering at church when the Spirit moves you
- Supporting a missionary, a pregnancy center, a local food pantry, or a cause that lifts up the name of Christ
The point isn’t the dollar amount. The point is obedience and generosity that flows from a heart that loves God first. And here’s something I can’t say loud enough: you need to be planted in a local church. Showing up on Sunday and leaving is not enough. Get involved. Serve. Join a small group. Ask questions. Surround yourself with people who also put Jesus first. Remember, Iron sharpens iron. You were never meant to walk this out alone. Daily time in the Word is non-negotiable too. Open the Bible every single morning (or set aside a special time daily) before you open your email or your phone. Let God speak to you first. Let His truth set the tone for your whole day. That one habit will change more in your life than any financial strategy ever could.
When you put faith first — when you honor God, sow generously, stay planted in a church, and stay in the Word everything else starts to line up.
- You become a better husband or wife,
- A better brother or sister,
- A better friend
- And better neighbor.
- Your marriage gets stronger.
- Parenting gets wiser.
Your finances get better too because you’re no longer making decisions out of fear or greed. You start to see the American advantage for what it really is: the freedom to live a life that actually glorifies the One who gave it to you. So here’s my challenge to you right now: Put Jesus first every day of your life and open the Bible before anything else.
Decide in your heart to be a cheerful giver. Start with the tithe, and then ask the Lord where else He wants you to sow.
Get planted in a local church and get involved.
Sow seeds daily — in your home, your work, your community, and your finances.
Ask God to make you a better husband or wife, a better brother or sister, a better friend and neighbor starting today.
God is faithful. He sees the seeds. He honors the heart that honors Him first. Your future, your family’s legacy, and the blessing you’ve been praying for are all tied to this one thing: putting faith first.