The short answer: the key verses about putting God first are Matthew 6:33 (seek first His kingdom), Exodus 20:3 (no other gods before Me), Matthew 22:37-38 (love God with all you are, the first and greatest command), and Colossians 3:1-2 (set your mind on things above). Whatever holds first place organizes everything else. The verses below are grouped by theme.
What does the Bible say about putting God first?
The Bible’s very first command is about priority: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Jesus repeats the theme when He names the greatest commandment: love God with everything (Matthew 22:37). Putting God first is not about loving other things less; it is about loving Him most, so the rest falls into place.
Bible verses about seeking God first
Matthew 6:33
“Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Put God’s priorities first, and trust Him with the daily needs you would otherwise chase.
Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
“In all your ways” means bringing God into every area, not just the religious ones.
Psalm 27:4
“One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life.”
David narrows his many wants down to one main thing: nearness to God.
Bible verses about keeping God above other loves
Matthew 22:37-38
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… This is the first and great commandment.”
Called “first” for a reason. Everything else in the Christian life hangs off this.
Matthew 10:37
“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.”
Even the best human loves are meant to sit under your love for God.
Colossians 3:1-2
“seek the things that are above… Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.”
Where your attention habitually goes is a good test of what is actually first.
Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Anything that takes God’s place, money, image, a person, becomes a rival god.
Bible verses about what follows when God is first
Matthew 6:33
“…and all these things will be given to you as well.”
The promise attached to the priority: God takes responsibility for what you were anxious about.
Psalm 37:4
“Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Delight in God reshapes your desires as it satisfies them.
1 Kings 3:11-13
Solomon asks for wisdom first, and God adds riches and honor he did not ask for.
Ask for the right first thing, and God often adds the rest.
Quick-reference table
| Verse | Focus | In one line |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 6:33 | Priority | Seek His kingdom first; the rest follows |
| Exodus 20:3 | Rivals | No other gods before Him |
| Matthew 22:37-38 | Affection | Love God with all you are |
| Colossians 3:2 | Attention | Set your mind on things above |
| Psalm 37:4 | Desire | Delight in Him; desires get reshaped |
How to put God first this week
- Give Him the first minutes. Pray and read a verse before the phone.
- Give off the top. Generosity first, not from what is left over.
- Name a rival. What currently competes for first place? Put it under God on purpose.
- Watch your attention. Where your mind drifts when it is free tells you what is first.
A short prayer
Father, I want you in first place, not just in name. Show me what has quietly moved ahead of you, and help me put it back under you. Take the first part of my day, my money, and my heart. Teach me to seek your kingdom first and to trust you with everything I usually worry about. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Frequently asked questions
What Bible verse says to put God first?
Matthew 6:33 (“Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness”) is the clearest. Exodus 20:3 (“You shall have no other gods before me”) and Colossians 3:2 (“Set your mind on the things that are above”) are the other common anchors.
What does it mean to put God first?
It means giving God the first place in your priorities, your time, your money, and your affections, so that every other good thing, family, work, comfort, is held in its proper place under Him (Matthew 6:33, Matthew 10:37).
Why is it important to put God first?
Because whatever holds first place shapes everything else. Matthew 6:33 promises that when God is first, “all these things will be given to you as well.” Putting anything else first, even a good thing, throws the rest out of order.
How do I put God first every day?
Give Him the first part of the day in prayer and Scripture, the first part of your income in generosity, and the first response of your heart in worship. Mark 12:30 is the aim: love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Start the day with a verse
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation. Look these passages up in the translation you read most.