Ten Commandments: Don't Worship Idols

Chuckle: A little girl who was an avid fan of radio closed her prayer with these words, "God bless mamma and daddy, amen and F.M."

Quote: "In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God's mercies and blessings; in the evening it is the key that shuts us up under his protection and safeguard." –Unknown Source

"Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!" (Exodus 20:4-5a NLT).

Here's what God is saying: "I am your God. I love you and I have redeemed you at a terrible price. I want to provide for you and protect you and bless you. Please, don't put anyone or anything in the place that rightfully belongs to me." God is saying: "don't carry around any other images or idols in your heart -- don't turn to false gods for comfort, stimulation, or satisfaction. I am able to meet your every need." It's a love issue. It's a relationship issue. The Apostle John wrote: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (I John 5:21 NIV).

The purpose of the second commandment is to negate all the vices that diminish our Godliness and further estrange us from the true God. Some "idols" that get in the way of our love relationship with God include our desire for power, image, pleasure, fame, wealth, status, etc. When you pursue these things more than God, they have become idols to you. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said to disciples, "You cannot serve both God and money." Paul says in Colossians 3:5, that even "greediness is idolatry." We will become just like the image/idol we are pursuing. We become like what we worship. God knows the hollow despair that ultimately results from a life where things other than Him hold first place in our value system.

A modern definition of happiness is "whatever makes me feel good -- whatever makes my child happy whether it's good for him or not." But the images/idols/gods of this world will take us where God doesn't want us to go. They will use us up, drain us dry, and then discard us. They can never give us genuine happiness.

There's room for only one truly loved husband or wife in your life and there should be room for only one Lord in your heart. He's Jesus. So, if you have attached your allegiance to something that has become more important than your relationship with Him, what should you do? Listen to Jesus: "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Matthew 6:32b-33 NLT).

Matthew Henry explains: "Since you know the true God and are in Him, let your light and love guard you against all that is advanced in opposition to Him, or competition with Him . . .Cleave to Him in faith, and love, and constant obedience, in opposition to all things that would alienate your mind and heart from God."

Love, Jerry & Dotse