There is a reason why people struggle financially in their lives, according to Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church, and the best way to resolve this problem is to put God first in everything they do.

"When your life is in a place of shortage, it's because you've got a flow in the wrong direction," Furtick said during his recent sermon called "Where Is God When We Feel So Empty."

"Fix the flow. There is a broken flow and the solution is faith," he stressed. "I want you to understand today that God has a solution for every shortage in your life."

According to Furtick, people will find clarity and peace when they prioritise God in their finances. When they begin doing so, their circumstances will change drastically, he promised.

"If you sit down after I preach today and do what you need to do in your life to put God first in the flow of your finances, it will change things. The tithe is the place where God gets your grip right, and opens your hands so that you don't hold on to stuff to the point that stuff ultimately has a hold on you," he said.

Furtick said that tithing is a demonstration of trust and worship, and even considers it "the most spiritual thing I do."

"It expresses my faith, it expresses my love, it expresses my obedience to do what He said to do," he said, "to bring back to God the first fruits of all that He's entrusted to me."

What's great about tithing, he added, is that God will give back to people more than just their financial needs, since He will also cover every other aspect in people's lives.

"My God will meet all your needs, too... all your needs, every need. Emotional needs. Spiritual needs..." he said. "If you get your life going in the direction of God — I declare increase over your life, in Jesus name."