Putting God First Series Part II: Consider Your Ways
Scripture: Haggai 1:5-7
The Word of the Lord says:
“Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
Ye have sown much, and bring in little;
Ye eat, but ye have not enough;
Ye drink, but ye are not filled…
Ye earn wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Good morning, family, and welcome to another episode of Live With Dorothy.
Today, we continue our powerful teaching series:
Putting God First — Joining the God First Movement.
Before we go into today’s message, I want to start where we start every week — with a
reminder:
Family, put God first.
Put Him first in your thoughts.
Put Him first in your morning.
Put Him first in your priorities.
Put Him first in your plans.
Because when you put God first…
God puts you in position.
He puts you in alignment.
He puts you in purpose.
He puts you in favor.
This is not just a series — it’s a movement.
It’s the God First Movement, and I want you to join it.
GOD DOESN’T CONDEMN US… HE INVITES US TO REFLECT
I love this passage because God doesn’t shout at the people.
He doesn’t threaten them.
He doesn’t criticize them.
He simply says:
“Stop. Look. Think. Consider your ways.”
Family, God is not trying to embarrass us.
He’s trying to elevate us.
He’s not trying to shame us.
He’s trying to shape us.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is slow down long enough to ask yourself:
“Is this really working for me?”
“Is this really drawing me closer to God?”
“Is this really producing peace in my life?”
And that’s part of putting God first —
being honest about where we are.
MANY OF US ARE BUSY BUT NOT PRODUCTIVE
The Lord said:
“You have planted much, but harvested little.”
In other words:
You’re working hard…
but you’re not seeing results.
You’re hustling…
but you’re still tired.
You’re pouring out…
but you’re not filled.
You’re collecting money…
but it feels like you’ve got a hole in your pocket.
If you feel that way…
God is not punishing you.
He’s inviting you to shift your priorities.
He’s whispering:
“Put Me first, and watch things straighten out.”
WE MISS GOD WHEN WE POSTPONE HIM
In the first sermon, we learned:
Most of us don’t reject God —
we postpone Him.
We tell God, “Soon.”
We tell God, “When life settles down.”
We tell God, “When I get through this season.”
But “later” is a thief.
“Later” steals our peace.
“Later” steals our purpose.
“Later” steals our time with God.
God is saying today:
No more postponing.
No more pushing Me to the bottom of the list.
No more giving Me the leftovers.
Put Me first.
Consider your ways.
And watch Me bless your life.
CONSIDERING YOUR WAYS IS AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
1️⃣ Where is my time going?
Are we giving any of it to Him?
Even 1%?
Even 14 minutes and 40 seconds of a 1440-minute day?
2️⃣ Where is my heart going?
Is it drifting toward God…
or drifting toward everything else?
3️⃣ Where are my priorities?
God doesn’t want to be in your top five.
He wants to be first place.
When you consider your ways, you give God room to re–route your life.
Just like a GPS redirects when you miss a turn,
the Holy Spirit redirects when your priorities slip.
But you have to be still long enough for Him to speak.
GOD FIRST LEADS TO GOD’S BEST
The moment the people listened… their entire situation shifted.
Later in verse 13 God says:
“I am with you.”
Not because they built the temple.
Not because they were perfect.
Not because they got everything right.
But because they simply considered their ways
and decided to put God first again.
Hear me, family:
God will meet you the moment you move toward Him.
He will strengthen you the moment you give Him space.
He will bless you the moment you make Him first.
CONCLUSION - JOIN THE GOD FIRST MOVEMENT
Family… this is personal.
This is spiritual.
This is transformational.
God is calling you today:
Consider your ways.
Put Me first.
Join the God First Movement.
Don’t wait until life breaks you down.
Don’t wait until you're on the side of the road needing roadside assistance.
Don’t wait until stress overwhelms you.
Put God first now.
Give Him the FIRST…
and watch Him bless the REST.
“Stop Postponing God.”
Until then… start your day with God.
Start your thoughts with God.
Start your decisions with God.
And keep putting God FIRST.
“Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
Ye have sown much, and bring in little;
Ye eat, but ye have not enough;
Ye drink, but ye are not filled…
Ye earn wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Good morning, family, and welcome to another episode of Live With Dorothy.
Today, we continue our powerful teaching series:
Putting God First — Joining the God First Movement.
Before we go into today’s message, I want to start where we start every week — with a
reminder:
Family, put God first.
Put Him first in your thoughts.
Put Him first in your morning.
Put Him first in your priorities.
Put Him first in your plans.
Because when you put God first…
God puts you in position.
He puts you in alignment.
He puts you in purpose.
He puts you in favor.
This is not just a series — it’s a movement.
It’s the God First Movement, and I want you to join it.
GOD DOESN’T CONDEMN US… HE INVITES US TO REFLECT
I love this passage because God doesn’t shout at the people.
He doesn’t threaten them.
He doesn’t criticize them.
He simply says:
“Stop. Look. Think. Consider your ways.”
Family, God is not trying to embarrass us.
He’s trying to elevate us.
He’s not trying to shame us.
He’s trying to shape us.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is slow down long enough to ask yourself:
“Is this really working for me?”
“Is this really drawing me closer to God?”
“Is this really producing peace in my life?”
And that’s part of putting God first —
being honest about where we are.
MANY OF US ARE BUSY BUT NOT PRODUCTIVE
The Lord said:
“You have planted much, but harvested little.”
In other words:
You’re working hard…
but you’re not seeing results.
You’re hustling…
but you’re still tired.
You’re pouring out…
but you’re not filled.
You’re collecting money…
but it feels like you’ve got a hole in your pocket.
If you feel that way…
God is not punishing you.
He’s inviting you to shift your priorities.
He’s whispering:
“Put Me first, and watch things straighten out.”
WE MISS GOD WHEN WE POSTPONE HIM
In the first sermon, we learned:
Most of us don’t reject God —
we postpone Him.
We tell God, “Soon.”
We tell God, “When life settles down.”
We tell God, “When I get through this season.”
But “later” is a thief.
“Later” steals our peace.
“Later” steals our purpose.
“Later” steals our time with God.
God is saying today:
No more postponing.
No more pushing Me to the bottom of the list.
No more giving Me the leftovers.
Put Me first.
Consider your ways.
And watch Me bless your life.
CONSIDERING YOUR WAYS IS AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
1️⃣ Where is my time going?
Are we giving any of it to Him?
Even 1%?
Even 14 minutes and 40 seconds of a 1440-minute day?
2️⃣ Where is my heart going?
Is it drifting toward God…
or drifting toward everything else?
3️⃣ Where are my priorities?
God doesn’t want to be in your top five.
He wants to be first place.
When you consider your ways, you give God room to re–route your life.
Just like a GPS redirects when you miss a turn,
the Holy Spirit redirects when your priorities slip.
But you have to be still long enough for Him to speak.
GOD FIRST LEADS TO GOD’S BEST
The moment the people listened… their entire situation shifted.
Later in verse 13 God says:
“I am with you.”
Not because they built the temple.
Not because they were perfect.
Not because they got everything right.
But because they simply considered their ways
and decided to put God first again.
Hear me, family:
God will meet you the moment you move toward Him.
He will strengthen you the moment you give Him space.
He will bless you the moment you make Him first.
CONCLUSION - JOIN THE GOD FIRST MOVEMENT
Family… this is personal.
This is spiritual.
This is transformational.
God is calling you today:
Consider your ways.
Put Me first.
Join the God First Movement.
Don’t wait until life breaks you down.
Don’t wait until you're on the side of the road needing roadside assistance.
Don’t wait until stress overwhelms you.
Put God first now.
Give Him the FIRST…
and watch Him bless the REST.
“Stop Postponing God.”
Until then… start your day with God.
Start your thoughts with God.
Start your decisions with God.
And keep putting God FIRST.