Oct. 25, 2026

First Things First

Key Takeaways

Practicing first fruits giving means intentionally putting God at the front of the line with your money, time, and attention rather than giving Him the leftovers.
When we fail to establish a deliberate order for our finances, God usually ends up with whatever is left over after all other bills and taxes are paid.
Proverbs 3:9-10 teaches us to honor the Lord with our wealth, using the concept of first fruits to show trust rather than treating giving like a business transaction.
Jesus addresses our daily anxieties in Matthew 6:33 by commanding us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness above all worldly concerns.
The story of the widow's two coins demonstrates that God cares more about the heart behind our sacrifice and giving from the front of the line than the sheer percentage given.

Show Notes

For more than 30 years, I’ve told business owners the same thing: pay the tax first, then pay yourself. Lately a question has been bothering me. If the tax comes first and I come second, where does God fit?

In today’s episode, I follow up on the Haggai episode from two weeks ago and finally give you the first fruits episode I promised. We walk through Proverbs 3 and Matthew 6, and I share why “leftovers” is where God lands when we don’t decide the order ahead of time. I also talk about what Proverbs 3:10 is and isn’t promising, because the barns-full-of-plenty verse gets misused a lot, and it gets on my nerves.

Then I get practical about what putting God first looks like on an ordinary Tuesday, whether you have a lot or almost nothing. I cover money, time, and attention, and I share four very different tables with the same order.

What you’ll hear

Why leftovers never actually get paid, whether it’s taxes, savings, or giving
Why we put first the things with consequences we can see
What first fruits meant to a farming people, and why the word is honor, not pay
What Proverbs 3 and Agur’s prayer say about wealth and wisdom
What Jesus does promise in Matthew 6, and what He doesn’t
The difference between giving from the front of the line and giving from the back
Why the widow’s two coins matter more than any percentage
My Truth Unveiled moment: whatever gets paid first is whatever you trust most

Scripture referenced

Proverbs 3:5-10
Matthew 6:31-34
Exodus 23:19
Proverbs 30:8-9
Mark 12:41-44
2 Corinthians 8:12
Romans 5:8
1 Corinthians 15:20

This week’s challenge

Pick one thing, your money, your time, or your attention, and move God to the front of the line. Which one will you pick?

Take the next step

If you prayed with me today, I’d love to hear from you. I read every message: truthunveiledwithralph.com/decision

I also host a daily show called Becoming Financially Confident: becomingfinanciallyconfident.com

Next week: Built on the Rock. Two builders, two foundations, and one storm, right out of Matthew 7. Don’t miss it.

#ralphestepjr

Frequently Asked Questions

What does first fruits giving mean biblically?

First fruits giving means dedicating the very first and best portion of your resources to God, acknowledging Him as the source and priority of your life rather than offering Him whatever is left over.

How does first fruits giving apply to modern finances?

It involves intentionally allocating a portion of your income to God right when you receive it, before paying bills, taxes, or discretionary expenses, mirroring the ancient practice of honoring God with the initial harvest.

What does Proverbs 3 say about wealth and giving?

Proverbs 3 instructs believers to trust in the Lord with all their hearts and to honor Him with their wealth, promising that doing so aligns our priorities with God's wisdom rather than guaranteeing a get-rich-quick formula.