God First, Period: Who Gets Your First and Best?

Does your “Hallelujah” really belong to God—or just what’s left after everything else?

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy for the good things in our lives—work, family, money, technology, even ministry—to crowd out the place only God deserves. In “My Hallelujah Belongs to YOU Part 2,” Dr. John Wallace challenges us to take an honest look at our priorities and ask, “Who or what is truly first in my life?”

The Main Point: God First, Period

The heartbeat of this sermon is simple but radical: God first, period. Not God after work, not God if there’s time, not God when it’s convenient—but God at the center, getting our first and best, not just our leftovers.

Drawing from Matthew 22:36-38, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and Old Testament warnings against idolatry (Exodus 20:1-5; Exodus 32), we see that God’s call has always been singular devotion. Even good gifts—like jobs, relationships, money, or technology—can become idols when they take God’s place.

“When God is not first, there’s a problem. There’s a massive problem.”— Dr. John Wallace

Key Insights from the Sermon

• Worship and Stewardship Go Hand in Hand: How we spend our time, attention, and resources reveals what (or who) we truly worship.

• The Danger of Idolatry: Anything that consistently comes before God—no matter how good it is—becomes an idol. As in the story of the golden calf (Exodus 32), we can turn God’s own gifts into objects of worship.

• Trusting God as Provider: Sabbath rest and generous giving both require trust in God to provide. “If you give God what’s left, there will never be enough. If you give God your first and best, He multiplies the rest.”

• Attention Is a Commodity: In the “attention economy,” what captures your heart and mind most often? Is God getting your first focus, or just your leftovers after social media, work, and entertainment?

Action Steps: Putting God First in Everyday Life

• Audit Your Priorities: Ask yourself honestly, “Who or what gets my first and best?” Look at your calendar, your spending, and your thought life for clues.

• Practice Stewardship: Commit the first portion of your income, your time, and your abilities to God as an act of worship and trust.

• Establish a Sabbath Rhythm: Set aside regular time each week to rest, reflect, and focus on God—trusting Him with your productivity and provision.

• Resist Idolatry: Regularly evaluate the “good things” in your life to ensure they haven’t become ultimate things.

• Engage with Scripture and Community: Stay rooted in God’s Word and Christian fellowship to help keep your heart oriented toward Him.

Conclusion & Prayer

When God is truly first, everything else falls into its proper place. Our “Hallelujah” belongs to Him—not just in song, but in every area of our lives. As you seek to put God first, may your worship and stewardship be a testimony to His goodness and faithfulness.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the source of every good thing in my life. Forgive me for the times I’ve given You only what’s left, instead of my first and best. Help me to trust You as my provider and to order my life so that You are truly first—period. Strengthen me to resist the pull of idols and to live each day with wholehearted devotion to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If this message challenged or encouraged you, share it with a friend or join us this Sunday at The Bible Center Church!