In the life of a believer, putting God first is a principle that stands at the heart of living out the Christian faith. Throughout the Bible, we are called to make God the center of our lives—above our desires, ambitions, relationships, and possessions. This command to prioritize God is not merely a suggestion but a guiding principle that influences every area of our lives.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This verse encapsulates the essence of what it means to put God first. When we prioritize God, everything else falls into place. This principle helps us find purpose, peace, and direction in a world full of distractions and competing priorities.
In this article, we will explore 21 Bible verses that emphasize the importance of putting God first. These verses cover various aspects of life—our hearts, our relationships, our priorities, and our resources—and guide us in living a life centered around God. By reflecting on these scriptures, we can better understand how to make God our first priority in all things.
1. Matthew 6:33 – Seek God First
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
This well-known verse from Jesus reminds us to prioritize God’s kingdom over our own needs. When we seek God’s righteousness and His will for our lives, He promises to take care of the things we worry about—our provisions, our desires, and our daily needs. Putting God first leads to God’s abundant blessing in our lives.
2. Matthew 22:37-38 – Love God with All Your Heart
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
Loving God with everything we have is the first and greatest commandment. To put God first means to love Him completely—without reservation or competition from other loves. Our hearts, minds, and souls should be fully devoted to God.
3. Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love God with All Your Strength
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
This verse repeats the call to love God with everything in us. It adds the dimension of strength, which emphasizes the commitment to serve God actively, with our energy and resources. When we put God first, we give Him our all, not just in our feelings, but in our actions.
4. Colossians 3:17 – Do Everything for God’s Glory
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
This verse challenges us to make God the center of all we do. Whether we are working, speaking, or living in our daily routines, everything should be done with God’s glory in mind. Putting God first means reflecting His values and character in every aspect of our lives.
5. Luke 10:27 – Love God and Your Neighbor
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
Putting God first is not just about loving Him alone, but also loving others as He loves us. This verse reminds us that when we prioritize God, we naturally extend that love to those around us. Loving God first transforms the way we treat others.
6. Matthew 10:37 – Prioritize God Over Family
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)
Jesus’ words are a stark reminder that God should take priority over even our closest relationships. While family is important, our devotion to God must surpass all other relationships. This principle challenges us to ensure that our loyalty to God is unwavering.
7. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust God in All Things
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trusting God with all our heart means submitting to His wisdom, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. When we put God first, we acknowledge His sovereignty in every decision, and He promises to guide us on the right path.
8. Psalm 37:4 – Delight in the Lord
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
When God is first in our lives, we find joy in His presence. This verse teaches that delighting in the Lord aligns our hearts with His desires, and He fulfills our deepest longings. Putting God first leads to contentment and peace.
9. 1 John 4:19 – Love God Because He First Loved Us
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Our love for God is a response to His love for us. When we remember that God loved us first, it motivates us to love Him in return. Putting God first is an act of gratitude for His sacrificial love.
10. Romans 12:1 – Offer Yourself to God
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
This verse calls believers to offer themselves completely to God. To put God first is to surrender our lives—our time, energy, and resources—fully to His service. It is an act of worship and devotion.
11. Matthew 6:24 – Serve One Master
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)
Jesus teaches that we cannot divide our loyalty. We cannot serve both God and material things or other idols. Putting God first means making Him the sole master of our lives.
12. Isaiah 55:8-9 – Trust God’s Higher Ways
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Putting God first requires trusting in His wisdom, even when we don’t understand His plans. God’s perspective is infinitely higher than ours, and His ways lead to the best outcomes, even if we can’t always see them clearly.
13. Psalm 119:2 – Seek God with the Whole Heart
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.” (Psalm 119:2)
A wholehearted pursuit of God is central to putting Him first. This verse teaches that true blessing comes from seeking God with an undivided heart, not distracted by worldly pursuits.
14. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – Do Everything for God
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
No action in life is too small to be done for the glory of God. Putting God first means that even our everyday activities are opportunities to honor Him. Every moment can be an expression of our love and devotion.
15. Philippians 3:8 – Consider All Things as Loss for Christ
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
Paul’s words reflect the mindset of putting God first. He values knowing Christ above everything else, including his possessions, status, and achievements. To follow Christ is to see everything else as secondary.
16. 2 Corinthians 5:15 – Live for Christ
“And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Christ’s sacrifice calls us to live for Him rather than for ourselves. Putting God first means living a life of selflessness, where our actions are motivated by His love and sacrifice for us.
17. James 4:7-8 – Submit to God
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8)
Submission to God is a vital part of putting Him first. When we humbly submit to His will, we are able to resist the devil and live a life of righteousness. Drawing near to God brings us closer to His presence and guidance.
18. Exodus 20:3 – No Other Gods
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)
This commandment underscores the exclusivity of our relationship with God. To put God first means to avoid idolizing anything or anyone else in our lives. God alone is worthy of our worship and devotion.
19. Matthew 4:10 – Worship God Alone
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”‘” (Matthew 4:10)
Jesus rejects the temptation to worship anything other than God. This verse teaches that true worship is reserved solely for God, and we must refuse all distractions that try to take His place.
20. Mark 8:34 – Deny Yourself for Christ
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” (Mark 8:34)
Following Christ requires putting Him first in everything, even at the expense of our own desires. Denying ourselves means putting God’s will above our own and following Him sacrificially.
21. Hebrews 12:2 – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
To put God first means to fix our eyes on Jesus, keeping Him at the center of our faith and our lives. When we focus on Christ, we find the strength to endure and live according to God’s will.
Conclusion
Putting God first is a call that runs throughout the Bible. It requires loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, seeking His kingdom above all else, and living with a singular devotion to Him. By prioritizing God, we align our lives with His purposes and experience the fullness of His blessings. These 21 Bible verses remind us of the importance of keeping God at the center of everything, and they provide practical guidance for living out that commitment. Let us seek to put God first in all we do, trusting that He will direct our paths and bless our lives as we honor Him.
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