Most of us don’t accidentally spend money on what matters to us. We find money for what we love. Coffee lovers find money for coffee. Sports fans find money for tickets. Car people find money for upgrades. That’s why the real question isn’t “Can I afford to give?” but “What is first in my life?”

In Genesis 4, Cain and Abel both bring offerings to God. Both give. Both worship. Yet God looks with favor on Abel’s offering and not Cain’s. The difference isn’t generosity versus stinginess. It’s priority.

Cain brings some of his produce. Abel brings the firstborn and the fat portions of his flock. In the ancient world, that meant the best, richest, most valuable part. Abel gives before knowing if there will be enough left. Cain waits and gives what remains.

When God is given first, everything that follows is placed under His blessing. When God receives leftovers, only the leftovers are blessed. The question becomes deeply personal: How much of my life do I want under God’s blessing?

God’s Pattern Has Always Been First Fruits

Scripture consistently points to the same rhythm: God’s people honor Him first.

Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)

Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce.

The word tithe simply means tenth. It was never meant to be complicated. It was meant to be formative.

From Abraham giving a tenth, to Israel’s standard practice of bringing the first portion to God, generosity was designed to train trust. God was not asking His people to give what they could spare, but to give in a way that required faith.

This is why Malachi 3 is so striking. God calls withholding a form of robbery and then does something unheard of. He says, “Test me in this.” It is the only place in Scripture where God explicitly invites His people to put Him to the test.

Biblical blessing is not limited to finances. It includes spiritual growth, contentment, freedom from materialism, healed relationships, healthy communities, and the joy of knowing you played a role in changing someone’s life. When generosity flows from trust, blessing follows in ways money alone could never measure.

From Obligation to Joyful Generosity

As Scripture moves into the New Testament, generosity shifts from law to the heart. Instead of a fixed percentage being emphasized, we see words like joyful, generous, and sacrificial. Some give out of abundance. Some give out of poverty. Both honor God when the heart is right.

Giving becomes less about where it goes and more about where it comes from. It is an act of worship that shapes the soul. That is why starting small still matters. Moving from nothing to something matters. Giving first matters. Growing over time matters.

When God is placed first, everything else begins to settle into place. Gratitude grows. Perspective sharpens. Contentment deepens. Ministry flourishes. The soul rests. God asks for a portion and entrusts us with the rest, inviting us to steward it for His glory and our good.

It turns out that putting God first isn’t a loss at all. It’s the deal of a lifetime.

Message recap adapted from the January 11, 2026, message by Minister Mark Ashton.

Message Notes & Slides

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