“When Money Takes the Throne”

Point 1: The Love of Money Shrinks Your World
1 Timothy 6:9–10 (NLT)
“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
Money itself isn’t evil—it’s neutral.
It’s the love of money that poisons the heart.
It’s when money starts telling you what to do instead of God.
Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
When money is your master, your world becomes small—your giving stops, your faith shrinks, and fear rules.
But when God is your Master, you live with open hands and open heaven.
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Point 2: Putting God First in Your Giving Unlocks Heaven’s Abundance
Proverbs 3:9–10 (NLT)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.
Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.”
Notice the pattern: Honor first. Overflow second.
You can’t skip the honor and expect the overflow.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”
When you give to God first, you’re declaring:
“Lord, You’re my Source, not my salary. You’re my Provider, not my paycheck.”
That’s how you move from barely enough to more than enough.
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What Is God’s Way of Putting Him First? — The Principle of the First
From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals a consistent pattern:
He blesses what’s first and expects what’s first to belong to Him.
Exodus 13:2 (NLT)
“Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me.”
The first represents faith and priority.
It says, “God, before I pay, plan, or spend—I honor You first.”
This is what the tithe represents: the first 10% of our income—set apart, holy, and returned to the Lord.
It’s not a bill to pay; it’s a declaration of faith.
Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.
If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you.
I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!
Try it! Put me to the test!”
When you put God first in your giving, He promises three things:
1. Open heavens — divine opportunities and favor.
2. Overflowing provision — “so great you won’t have enough room.”
3. Protection — God rebukes the devourer (v.11).
This is God’s system:
You honor Him with the first, and He blesses the rest.
You put Him first in giving, and He puts you first in blessing.
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2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NLT)
“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
When you live generous, God makes sure you never run dry—because He can trust you to be a channel, not a container.
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Point 3: God’s Way Removes the Limits
Luke 6:38 (NLT)
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.
The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
When you give God what’s in your hand, He releases what’s in His.
And what’s in His hand is always greater than what’s in yours.
When you obey His system of sowing and giving, you tap into Kingdom economics—where multiplication is normal, and lack has no power.
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Point 4: Generosity Expands Your World
Proverbs 11:24 (MSG)
“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.”
Your world either expands or shrinks based on your generosity.
When you’re stingy, you’re saying, “I don’t trust God to provide.”
But when you’re generous, you’re saying, “I trust Him more than what I see.”
Generosity is how God enlarges your world and multiplies your influence.