Making God First in My Life - 325-334

325.  Is it very important for me to put God as my top priority?

• Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
• Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
• Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
• James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Heavenly Father, I want to find my highest delight and pleasure in fellowship with You, and in following Your will. Empower me to even chose suffering, if need be, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Enable me to love You more than earthly pleasures. Turn me from worldly pleasures and indulgence that would rob me of my connection with You. You are all I need forever, dear Lord!

326.  Is there danger in the seeking the pleasures of this world, which would lessen my love for God?

• Proverbs 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
• Isaiah 47:8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
• Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
• 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
• Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Dearest Father, Rivet my affections on Heavenly things and let me value Your divine principles. Open my eyes to the deception and depravity of the world as it stands under Satan's rulership. Help me not to be drawn to worldly pursuits and possessions that would cause me to sell my soul. Lead me to focus on eternity that will endure, not this earthly bubble soon to burst. I do not want to be tricked into being a friend and lover of ungodly practices. Give me discernment that I may choose what pleases You.

327.  What strong warnings are found in the Bible about loving this world?

• Mark 8:36, 37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
• Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
• James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
• 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

My precious Lord, Truly this world has nothing to offer me, nothing worth selling my soul for. I want to love You so much that the things of this world grow dim. Remove any pull that the world may have, any selfish, prideful or sensual desires. As I dwell on Your beauty and holiness, this world looses its appeal. This world is not my home, for I am seeking a Heavenly kingdom!

328.  Does Jesus want me to detach myself from worldly principles?

• John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
• John 17:14, 16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
• 1 Corinthians 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
• Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
• James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Lord Jesus, You declared that You were not of this world, and that Your followers are not to be of this world. In fact, Your true disciples are to stand out to such a degree that society in general hates us, because we live by Your Word. Lord, there is to be a great contrast between Your disciples and the disobedient worldlings. Teach me to stand on Your side, Lord, and have the courage to go against the crowd. Enable me to keep myself unspotted from worldly compromise and to give myself unreservedly to You.

329.  Does God want me to value righteousness higher than earthly wealth?

• Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
• Psalm 62:10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
• Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
• Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
• Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Dear Lord, help me to always choose to please You above material wealth. Enable me to not place my affections on things or money. Teach me to see the value of right thinking and holy living as superior to any earthly wealth.

330.  Does the Bible warn me about the snares of riches?

• Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
• Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
• Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
• 1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
• 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

My Lord, You are my Master, my only Master. I cannot share my worship of You with material wealth. If I make decisions based on monetary advantage over righteous integrity and selfless service, it shows that You are not my master. Lead me not to be deceived by riches, which will choke out Your Word. Remove strong desire for wealth or money. Since riches tend to make it more difficult to earnestly seek You, teach me to be contented without earthly wealth.

331.  Can the deceitfulness of riches and cares of this life be a hindrance to my relationship with God?

• Isaiah 2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
• Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
• Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
• Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
• James 5:3 your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Dear Father in Heaven, Here is a precious truth I really need to understand in a practical way - how to lay up treasure in Heaven. It appears that I can't lay up treasures on earth and in Heaven at the same time, because they are contradictory. If I am focused on laying up earthly treasure, it shows my heart is set on it, and not on spiritual treasure. Guide me to spend my earthly treasures principally to help the poor and spread the gospel. Teach me to be willing to relinquish all earthly treasures if that's what it takes for me to make a complete surrender to You.

332.  Where is my treasure, and where is my heart?

• Matthew 6:20, 21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
• Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
• Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
• Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
• Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

My Precious Lord, You want me to seek You with all my heart, with an intensity and determination with which nothing can interfere. I want to have that undivided focus on You, Lord, and Your righteousness, so all other pursuits pale in comparison. I want to forsake everything that threatens to distract from my commitment to You. I want to be rich in faith even if it means being poor in this world. Entrance into Your kingdom is priceless, and I want to be there with You.

333.  Does God want me to give unselfishly and cheerfully?

• Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
• Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
• Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
• 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Dear Lord, You have been so merciful and generous to me. Show me how to have that same spirit toward others, to give of my time, my money, my talent to bless others. Teach me to share my blessings with the needy and to give cheerfully and selflessly. Help me to find more joy in giving that in receiving.

334.  Does the Bible teach that God wants us to return a tenth, or tithe of our increase back to Him?

• Genesis 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
• Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
• Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
• Malachi 3:8, 10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it .
• Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Dear God, with the godly men of old, I too want to give one tenth of my income to You, for it is holy. In every material blessing I receive, I want to acknowledge Your provision by returning a tithe to You. Work in me to gladly bring my tithes and offerings to Your storehouse, Your church, and rejoice in the abundant blessing that You promise to give me.

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