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Truth Unveiled with Ralph · October 25 · 37 min

First Things First

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

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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

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