Life Plan Devotion #40 [F.I.R.S.T. Place]

Quick! What's the first commandment? Did you remember that the first of the 10 Commandments is "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3, NKJV)? A "god" is an idol, defined in The Strong's Dictionary of Bible Words as "a fashioned idol, likeness, the worship of such," and, interestingly, "pain."
God commands and demands that He be first in your life. Does God have first place in your life? How can you know? Here's an acronym, F.I.R.S.T., and some questions, to assist you in knowing the place God has in 5 major areas of your life. We'll look at one area per day, for 5 days.
Finances (the F in F.I.R.S.T.)--Take a look at your checkbook register, and you'll get a good idea where your heart is. It is true that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21, KJV). Do you tithe? Do you tithe 10 percent? Do you tithe from your gross or the net pay? Is your tithe check the first check you write, after getting paid, or the last? Do you give to other godly causes, as an offering, above your tithe? Do you sow into good ground/good ministries? Do you prayerfully ask God what He would have you give and then are you obedient to His leading? Do you "give until it hurts" and then trust God to provide? Is God first in your finances?
In these uncertain economic times, the best way to recession-proof your finances is to put God first in them. There is only one place in the Bible where you are invited to test God, and that is in the area of tithing. Read Malachi 3:10, and if you're a regular tither, claim the promise. If you're not, consider taking God up on His challenge. Just know that the blessing may not happen right away, but it will happen, and part of that blessing is God taking care of your needs, no matter what's going on in your life (or in the economy) [Philippians 4:19].

Matthew 6:33 [NIV]
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

What this has to do with weight loss: It's expensive to have weight-loss surgery, and it's not cheap to live with it. There are vitamins and supplements to take, protein shakes and other protein-enriched foods to purchase, yearly blood work and follow-up visits, and that's only the beginning. The best way to be able to afford all of that is to put God first in your finances, for when you do that, He promises to give you "all these things." Prove Him on it.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, when I look at the state of the economy, it can sure get scary, but I thank You that there is no recession where You live. Since Your Word says that we believers are "seated in heavenly places" (Ephesians 2:6), there shouldn't be recession issues with us. Thank You for Your Word that teaches me that if I put You first, everything else will work out. Lord, I know that Your children are not immune to trials, but I praise You that You have promised "never to leave [us] nor forsake [us]" (Hebrews 13:5). I don't have to worry about finances, as long as I put my trust in You and seek You first. I know You are worthy of my trust. Help me to do what I should do, so You can do all You have promised. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen."

Go forth today, putting God first in your finances.