Put God First

Introduction

God does not beg and the Church is not a system to enrich pastors: the gold and silver already belong to Him. If the Bible talks so much about generosity, tithing, and firstfruits, it is for us; to unlock situations and bring our lives under blessing. In this sermon, Patrice Martorano puts a simple principle back at the center: what you put first governs the rest. When God is first, everything falls into order; when God comes second, everything eventually falls into disorder.

Message outline

1. Jesus, God's firstfruit who redeems our lives

• In Exodus 13, God commands: "Consecrate to me every firstborn male… it belongs to me." The Hebrew word is radical: the firstfruits are His property, not ours.
• The firstborn of clean animals had to be sacrificed; the firstborn of an unclean animal, like a donkey, had to be redeemed with a lamb, or its neck had to be broken. You do not keep what belongs to God.
• The word Torah comes from the Hebrew root yarah, which means "to cast, to point, to direct": everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus. We were all born impure since the fall of Adam and Eve; Jesus, the second Adam, was born pure and without sin.
• At the cross, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world redeemed the impure people that we were. He is the firstborn over all creation, the firstfruit that the Father gave for us, "God's tithe," His first and His best.

2. The first fruits belong to God, and they go to the house

• "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God." (Exodus 23:19) and "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops." (Proverbs 3:9)
• The firstfruits have an address: the house of the Lord; that is, the local church where you are fed, taught, and surrounded. Not an isolated internet ministry, not an NGO, not a well-meaning personal idea, however generous it may be.
• The Bible doesn't say "pay your tithe" or "give your tithe," but "bring your tithes." What belongs to God cannot be presented as a gift: you are not doing God a favor; you are returning what already belongs to Him.
• Those who have understood this run to bring it; those who think it is their money will always find a good reason to delay. Bringing the firstfruits is a concrete acknowledgment of God's lordship.

3. The tithe comes first: what redeems and blesses the rest

• Tithe means "a tenth." But biblically, it is not just any tenth: it is the first tenth, set apart before everything else.
• The Bible teaches that money is under a spiritual power it calls Mammon. By default, everything we own is under that influence.
• Just as the lamb redeemed the unclean donkey, the first portion consecrated to God redeems and blesses the remaining 90%. There is an "exchange bureau" in heaven: the first ten out of a hundred, offered to God, pull your finances out of the "purse with holes" logic (Haggai 1:6).
• We see it with Jericho: the first city had to be entirely consecrated to the Lord. When Achan took part of the firstfruits for himself, the defeat at Ai came upon the entire people until the matter was resolved. When God is put first, victory follows; when someone touches the firstfruits, the door opens to setbacks.
• Same lesson with Cain and Abel: Abel offered the firstborn of his flock and the Lord looked with favor; Cain brought a random offering and his offering was not accepted. God will not be relegated to second place.

Key takeaways

• What you put first governs the rest: when God is first, everything is in order; when He comes second, everything eventually falls into disorder.
• The firstfruits do not belong to you; they are the Lord's property: you don't "give" them, you "bring" them.
• Jesus is God's firstfruit, the Lamb who redeemed the impure people that we were; the firstfruits principle begins with what God did for us.
• The tithe is the first tenth; not what's left after the bills; and it is what redeems and blesses the following 90%.
• Mistakes should not rob you of what is eternal: abuses around money in the Church do not erase generosity, which is at the very heart of God.

Personal application

1. Is God truly first in your priorities; your time, your money, your plans; or does He come at the end, "if there's anything left"?
2. Have you understood that the first portion of your income already belongs to God, or do you still consider it yours?
3. Does your tithe go to the local house where you are spiritually fed, or is it scattered wherever your feelings lead you?
4. Is there a financial or spiritual blockage in your life that might be explained by an unhonored firstfruits principle?
5. Are you ready to take a concrete step of faith with your next paycheck; bringing the first ten percent as an act of worship?

Verses cited

• Exodus 13 · Consecrate to me every firstborn
• Exodus 23:19 · The firstfruits to the house of the Lord
• Proverbs 3:9-10 · Honor the Lord with the firstfruits of your crops
• Malachi 3:8-12 · Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse
• Haggai 1:6 · You earn wages only to put them in a purse with holes
• John 1:29 · The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
• Matthew 23:23 · The tithe, without neglecting mercy

Frequently asked questions

What is the firstfruits principle in the Bible?

The firstfruits principle consists of consecrating to God the first portion of what you receive: firstborn, first harvest, first tenth of your income. This first portion is not a gift; it already belongs to God. Bringing it to Him is acknowledging His lordship and allowing His blessing to redeem the rest.

Does the New Testament still talk about tithing?

Yes. Jesus Himself validates the tithe when He corrects the Pharisees: "You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." The New Testament does not do away with the generosity of the Old; it intensifies it. The early Christians in Acts brought far more than 10% to God's family.

Where should the tithe go?

The Bible is clear: "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God." The tithe has an address: the house of the Lord; that is, the local church where you are fed and taught. It is not meant for an isolated ministry, an NGO, or a well-meaning personal idea.