First Things First

Read: Exodus chapter 13

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? For most of us, it’s almost automatic. We reach for our phone, check notifications, scroll for a few minutes, or start thinking about everything the day is going to demand from us. It happens so quickly we barely notice it. But if we slow down long enough to pay attention, that first moment of the day is actually revealing something deeper. It’s showing us what has priority in our lives.

I remember a conversation with someone who told me they were struggling to spend time with God. They said, “I just don’t have time in the mornings.” But as we kept talking, it became clear that time wasn’t really the issue. There was time for checking emails, time for social media, time for the news, just not time set aside for the Lord. It wasn’t a schedule problem... it was a priority problem. The truth is, we’ve all been there at some point.

That’s why Exodus 13 is so powerful. Right after God delivers Israel out of Egypt--after the Passover, after the blood of the lamb spares their lives--He gives them a command that might seem unusual at first. He tells them to consecrate the firstborn, to set apart the first of everything. Not what’s left over, not what remains at the end, the first.

Why do you think God places such a strong emphasis on the “first” instead of what’s left over?

Why would God ask for that? Because the first says something. It communicates who you trust, who you honor, and who truly comes first in your life. The first portion isn’t just a piece of what you have; it represents the whole. In giving the first, Israel was acknowledging that everything they had came from God and ultimately belonged to Him.

There’s a story about a farmer who once told his wife, “When our cow has two calves, we’ll dedicate one to the Lord.” Eventually the cow gave birth to two calves, and for a while everything seemed fine. But a few weeks later, the farmer came in looking discouraged and said, “Bad news! The Lord’s calf died.” His wife looked at him and asked, “How do you know it was the Lord’s calf?” He replied, “I had already decided.” It’s a simple story, but it hits close to home. It’s easy to intend to give God our best, but in practice, He often ends up with whatever is left.

Why is it easier to give what’s left instead of giving first?

What makes this even more significant is that God doesn’t just ask for the first, He gave the first. Jesus is called the firstborn, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God didn’t wait for us to prove ourselves or get everything right before He gave His Son. Scripture tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That means God demonstrated the very principle He calls us to live by. He didn’t give leftovers. He gave His best.

How does understanding that you’ve been redeemed change the way you view giving, worship, or obedience?

When you begin to see that, it changes your perspective completely. Giving God your first is no longer about obligation or pressure. It becomes a response. It’s an act of trust that says, “God, You are my source. You gave everything for me, so I’m putting You first in my life.” Whether it’s the first part of your day, the first of your finances, or the first of your attention and energy, it all becomes an expression of worship.

The reality is, we’re all giving our “first” to something. The question isn’t whether we are, it’s what or who is receiving it. And that’s worth thinking about, because what comes first in your life is ultimately what shapes your life. So maybe the question to wrestle with isn’t just what you’re giving to God, but when you’re giving it. Is He receiving your first, or is He getting what’s left over after everything else has taken its place? Because the first thing you do with what you’ve been given says more than you realize. It reveals what you truly believe about who God is in your life.

What area of your life currently requires faith to put God first?