As you look back at 2018, what kind of year do you think it was for you (spiritually speaking)? There are a few different categories you might feel you fit into. The first is spiritual apathy. This is when you have a “don’t care” attitude and have no enthusiasm for life. This is not a good place to be! Another category you might fit into is spiritual inconsistency (good starts/experiences and bad starts). You’re on the right track, but there is a better place for you. Being spiritually consumed—being in awe of God and on fire for Him—is where God wants you! How does this become reality? Remember—order matters. God doesn’t do things haphazardly.
“But seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:32). Seek first the Kingdom! How is this done? One of the first things you do when seeking the Kingdom is giving God the first of your life. This means putting God first, not just if you think about, but all of the time. Each day, put Him first by SEEKING HIM! Spend time praying about your day, thanking Him, and reading His Word. Jesus sets the example for this is Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” You can’t expect to draw near to God if you don’t even talk to Him. When you seek the Kingdom first, everything else will fall into place.
You can also give God the first of your week by attending church—worshiping Him, and serving in His name. This is how we gather as believers and are a part of corporate prayer and communion. This is what keeps us in community with each other and keeps our focus on Christ. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Acts 20:7). Church is where you give the first of your week to God, but also where others build you up and encourage you!
What about giving God the first of your month? Tithing is how you can give God the first of your income every month. Like with your days/weeks/months, you shouldn’t think of God last when looking at your finances. He’s not an afterthought, and you shouldn’t give Him your “leftovers.” God doesn’t even want your leftovers!
Look forward to 2019. It’s an opportunity for you to show God what He means to you!