“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3)
By Nick Bibile
Does it mean to say there are other gods? Hindu religion believes in millions of gods. Mormonism believes that one day you can become a god. The word Polytheism believes in many gods. The word Monotheism means believing in one God.
What does the Bible say.
Corinthians I 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
Corinthians I 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Also in Galatians 4:8, But then indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
In reality there is one true living God. We are to worship, serve and honor the living one true God. All the other gods are idols.
Psalms 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Exodus 20:1-3 This is what God said to the Israelites.
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
This command is the beginning of true worship. “I am the LORD your God,”
It teaches that God alone must be honored as the only true God.
All obedience flows from this. If we do not worship the true God, we cannot truly obey Him. This commandment does not only forbid false gods.
It also requires true devotion to the living God.
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
It tells us to know God, trust God, fear God, love God, worship and obey God, not only with words but in our hearts.
God is the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Today it relates to us, God is the one who saved us from this evil world as we were slaves to sin.
Because of that God must be our highest good. Therefore we must not love anything more than Him, we must trust only Him. Do not fall into idolatry, if not the human heart is an idol factory.
Even our first parents violated this commandment when Satan tempted them that they can become like god. Now Satan is called the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
This first commandment speaks on idolatry. Idolatry is worshiping false gods. The God of the Bible requires an undivided loyalty and He will not share his glory with another.
You shall have no other gods before me, means no rivals, no substitutes, no divided loyalties.
God is not willing to be first among many. He demands to be the only God.
Isaiah 42:8 — “My glory I will not give to another.”
Idolatry is not ancient history. It is the daily sin of the human heart.
An idol is anything you trust more than God, anything that you love more than God. Idolatry is setting up something and having love and devotion to that is being set up, instead of God. It could be an image, a saint, an angel, a Hollywood idol, famous singer, a sports star, wealth, job, a lover, material things etc.
What is modern day, this digital age idolatry?
1.Self worship, more concern for yourself than God. People will be lovers of themselves. Selfie lovers, taking more time for your appearance than taking time for your soul.
2 Timothy 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.
2. Career and Success more than God. Looking for recognition. Ambition to be rich, wealthy and popular. Satan can even put a golden hook behind the pulpit for the ministers of the gospel for recognition and for a wealthy lifestyle.
Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
3. Loving your family, friends more than God. Relationships, bonding become more important than bonding the soul with God.
Matthew 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me
4. Religion without God.
Trusting in your church denominations, rituals and external devotions than God.
Isaiah
29:13 And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their
mouth
and
honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and
their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,.
5. Entertainment and pleasure.
Constant appetite to stimulate the flesh with amusement instead of holiness. Freshly excitement.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6. Technology and Social Media
People are more engaged in their smartphones than ever in social media. They pour all their anxieties, desires, worries and pleasure to social media like Facebook instead of God. Posting photos of themselves and food, also problems.
1 Peter 5:7-8
[7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour
Psalm
101:3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.
I
hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
Gambling
Superstition
This
commandment exposes us:
We
do not naturally love God—we replace Him with these idols.
The only way we can truly worship God is to know the living God.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Then we need to acknowledge Him alone.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me
Then we need to fully trust him
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Fear Him reverently
Matthew 10;28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Love him above everything else.
Matthew 22:37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This commandment comes first because it is the root of all sin.
Romans 1:21 — “Although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him.”
Break this commandment, and every other commandment falls with it.
The First Commandment condemns us, show us how many times we have violated this commandment, we are guilty before the almighty holy God, deserve the wrath of God and humbles us, and leaves us with only one hope:
Either
Christ is your Lord, or something else is.
And whatever replaces
Him will destroy your soul and you will face eternal punishment.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This fear should terrify your soul, tremble before Him and flee to the cross of the Savior, asking pardon forgiveness for our sins, if you do instead of punishment he will give you grace.
Once you are truly saved as a Christian you will hate those sins of idolatry, and you will love Christ as your Savior. Then comes obedience.
Jesus said, if you love me you will obey me. We are saved through Christ who perfectly obeyed this commandment, we obey God, obedience is the result of our salvation. True obedience is the fruit of our faith.
Today,
God calls you to tear down your idols. Forsake your divided
heart
Trust in Christ alone. Joshua
24:15
— “Choose
this day whom you will serve.”