But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough…You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.
THE FIRSTS
1) THE FIRSTBORN BELONGS TO GOD.

Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me…
For more information on “redeemed”: read Exodus 13:11-13

For more information on the Passover: read Exodus 12:1-16

2) THE FIRST TENTH BELONGS TO GOD.
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD…
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
• YOU CAN’T GIVE WHAT YOU DON’T OWN.

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me.
THE FIRST TEST
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this.’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’
For information on the Three Month Tithe Challenge, go to www.lifechurch.tv hit “search” and type in “three month test”.
WE GIVE TO GOD FIRST
• IT REQUIRES FAITH TO GIVE FIRST. IF YOU GIVE LAST, IT DOESN’T REQUIRE FAITH.
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing…
THE SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’
WHO WAS JESUS? GOD’S FIRSTBORN.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
YOUR FIRST COMMITMENT

And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
• TITHING ISN’T REALLY GIVING. IT IS RETURNING.


• KEEPING WHAT BELONGS TO GOD IS STEALING.

Exodus 13:2, Leviticus 27:30, Proverbs 3:9-10, Haggai 1:6, Malachi 3:8-10, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:33, John 1:29, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 8:5