God is into first things. He wants to be first in our lives in every way. Throughout the Scriptures we can see that God desires to have first place in the hearts of His people, the first of our time, first of our increase (money) and  to be first in our actions so that we think of Him in everything we do, how it will bring Him glory.
The first commandment does not change from Old Testament to New Testament. In the Old we read, Love the LORD thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength,†Deuteronomy 6:5. In the New, Jesus repeats this saying, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all thy mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment,†Mark 12:30.
Though the Israelites rested as worship every Sabbath, most of their holy days and feasts started on the first day of the week; “the day after the Sabbath†is how the Scriptures record them. Passover, though not celebrated on a first day, was celebrated in the first month, Nisan.
In the New Testament we find that the main day of worship for Christians was not the Sabbath (Saturday), the last day of the week, the day of rest, but Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of new beginnings, first fruits.
We can see how this was set in motion:
Jesus rose of the first day of the week. Mark 16:9
He was the first fruits of them that rose from the dead. I Corinthians 15:20
He appeared to the disciples of the first day of the week. John 20:19
On the first day of the week the disciple and apostles came together to fellowship. Acts 20:7
Paul told believers to set aside money each week on the first day, (Sunday) so that when he came he would not have to ask for money, only collect what had already been put away by them. 1 Corinthians 16:2
It’s a matter of trust not transgression.
For the New Testament believer, tithing is done not out of necessity from the law but from the heart out of covenant. Under the law it was a transgression not to tithe, but under grace it is a violation of trust in God not to give God the first and top portion of our increase as we purpose in our hearts. It is the same with all other firsts we give to Him, because we honor for Him.
It is not what you give but what you hold back that interest God.
In the story of the widow’s mite she was found more honorable for giving less because it was all she had but she honored God with it. Many rich folks had given much more than she, but they had not given God the best, the first, the tenth or more of their increase. She, on the other hand gave more than a tenth, out of her lack she gave all she had, her first, her best, her last.
You are already accepted in the Beloved and you have already been given all spiritual blessings in heavenly places and everything that pertains to life and godliness through Christ Jesus. However if you are not experiencing these blessings and this life and godliness in its fullness it could be that you are not putting God first and prioritizing Him in one or more of the areas listed above: giving God first place in your heart and all your decisions, giving Him the first portion of your time each day, each week and each month, Â and giving Him the first and top or tenth if your income.
Beloved, I pray you search your heart today and make any course correction wherever you’ve missed it so you can experience the abundant life God has for you.
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