Is God Really First in Your Life? | Blessed! | Pastor Dale Oquist
Does God really come first in your life? And what does the way you handle your money reveal about your relationship with Him?
We often say God is our highest priority, but Jesus reminds us that where our treasure is, our heart will be also.
In this special message, Blessed!, Pastor Dale Oquist challenges us to move beyond simply having a philosophy of giving and develop a biblical theology of giving rooted in God's Word.
Through the stories of Cain and Abel, Israel's first victory at Jericho, and the biblical principles of firstfruits and tithing, we discover that generosity isn't simply about money. It's about who holds first place in our lives.
God doesn't want to be an accessory to our lives. He wants our whole hearts.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21
In This Message, You'll Discover:
-Why our finances reveal what we truly value
-The difference between a philosophy of giving and a biblical theology of giving
-Why God established the principle of the firstborn and firstfruits
-How the firstborn points us toward redemption through Jesus
-What Cain and Abel teach us about honoring God with our first and best
-Why the first portion matters in biblical giving
-The difference between tithing and generosity in Pastor Dale's teaching
-Why putting God first is ultimately a matter of the heart
Three Truths to Remember
1. Your heart follows your treasure.
2. God deserves our first and best, not what's left over.
3. God isn't after your money. He wants your whole heart.
Putting God first isn't simply something we say. It's something reflected in how we live, how we give, and what we choose to prioritize.
Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
The question isn't just how much we give. It's who comes first.
As we conclude, Pastor Dale invites us to take the 75 Blessed Challenge, committing to put God first in our giving, prayer, and trust for the final 75 days of the year.Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
Reflection Questions
-Does God truly have first place in my life, including my finances?
-Do I approach giving from a biblical theology or simply from personal preference and convenience?
-What does the way I spend, save, and give reveal about where my heart is?
-Am I offering God my first and best, or giving Him what's left over?
-Is there an area of my life where I've allowed something else to take God's place?
Scripture References
Matthew 6:21
Exodus 13:1-2, 11-13
Exodus 23:19
Proverbs 3:9-10
Joshua 6-7
Genesis 4:2-5
Leviticus 27:30
About This Message
After exploring the Beatitudes in our Blessed? series, Pastor Dale transitions from Blessed? to Blessed!, challenging us to consider what it means to live with God first in every area of our lives.
Pastor Dale Oquist | October 18, 2026
Peoples Church | Fresno, California
Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org
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