The first commandment given to Moses was, "You shall have no other gods before me." Deut. 5:7 When God created us he put within us the need and the capacity for just one God. Jesus made it clear when he said, "No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Mt. 6:24
The reality is, God will not share the throne of your heart with you, or any other person or thing. He must be the supreme affection of your heart. When Jesus was asked, "What is the greatest commandment in the law," He responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Mt. 22;37 If you truly love God you will not allow anything or anyone to divide your love and loyalty for Him.
Tragically, we live in a day when even professing Christians demonstrate divided affections. Our gods today are financial security, sex, power and pleasure. Some worship at the thrones of NFL football, celebrities, wealth and hobbies. At times I have been stunned to find parents more concerned about the popularity and secular achievements of their children than they are about their relationship with the Lord. Anything in our lives that takes priority over God and His will is an idol. Even legitimate things such as our spouse and children must be surrendered to God.
Much of the spiritual mediocrity we see today can be attributed to the fact that many have compartmentalized their lives. They completely separate their relationship with the Lord from all other aspects of their life. They attempt to put God in a box and only allow Him out for a few hours on Sunday or when they are in distress.
God calls us to a place of absolute surrender. We must give Him control over every area of our lives. We surrender to Him our time, talent and treasurers. He must be Lord of all or he won't be Lord at all.
When we break this command we succumb to idolatry. You cannot serve two gods. Ones attempt to do so only leads to spiritual and emotional destruction. Whom do you serve? Where do you bow down and worship? What or who dominates your life and love?
You can only serve one god. Let God be God! Give Him your undivided love and loyalty.
The old chorus is true, "Let go and let God have His wonderful way. Your burdens will vanish, your night turn to day, let go and let God have His way." He made us for Himself. Therefore, the only way to find true fulfillment and peace is to allow Him to be your one and only God. God said, "You shall have no other god before me."