THE PROBLEM is a lack of trust.
In Genesis 2:15-17 we see God telling Adam and Eve, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.””
Which tree was off limits? “The knowledge of good and evil.” Every other tree was a GO, but not this one. The problem was they they had a lack of trust in God. There’s also a pivotal principle here for all of us right here:
We weren’t made to determine GOOD and EVIL.
We were made to live in a right relationship with God, follow Him, and obey Him. But like Adam and Eve, we get out of our lane and into GOD’S dominion and start making decisions for ourself on what is GOOD and what is EVIL. God can handle that! He doesn’t need to know what we “think” is good or what we “think” is evil.
In fact, the world is out of control and spiraling toward disaster because people have decided it’s their job to decide good and evil. It was a disaster for Adam and Eve and it’s a disaster for each of us, too. God has laid out for us what is right and good in His Word. We just need to follow and obey.
PUTTING GOD FIRST is trusting His way is the best way.
Proverbs 3:5-6 shows us what it means to Put God First.
“TRUST in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
I look at that phrase “do not lean on your own understanding and I think about how I hear people saying to others, “You need to stay in your lane.” We need to stay in our land and stay out of God’s lane and lean on Him instead of self-wisdom or the best earthly wisdom. And by the way, God “making our paths straight” doesn’t mean making our way easy. It means that by leaning on Him we can walk straight through even the most difficult times because of His power that is working in us.
PUTTING GOD FIRST is a way of life.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Where do you turn first? Better yet, “WHO” do you turn to first?
By turning to them first, you prove that you trust them most. In the context of this passage we see that Jesus listed out many of the things in which people place their trust. In verse 32 He says directly, “those who haven’t put their faith in God CHASE all the worldly things…”
But a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ SEEKS GOD FIRST. A believer SEEKS the RIGHTEOUSNESS of JESUS (right way of living). Then, by living that way all the things we truly NEED, will be added to us.
TRUST GOD.
STAY IN YOUR LANE.
SEEK JESUS FIRST in everything.
Putting God First is the Proof that you Trust Him Most!
– Bro. Andy Buchanan