Exodus 20:1-6 (ESV) Scripture

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. Scripture

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  Scripture

5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Scripture

First Thing First

Mt 6:33, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

20:1, 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.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 

“You shall not worship idols.” “Love God more than idols.” “Put God first and be blessed.”

There were many idols in the ancient world and God warned his chosen people to watch out for idols and false gods when they moved to the Promised Land. The Canaanite & Moabite people worshiped a male god, Baal

They also worshiped a female god, Ashtoreth who controlled fertility and prosperity.

Unfortunately, the Israelites didn’t listen to God’s warning.

Num 25:1, while Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 

Jud 2:11, the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers …They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.

13 They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreth 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.

They have an idol problem and we do too. We may not be engaged in external idolatry; we engage in an internal idolatry. John Calvin, a Swiss theologian said, “The human heart is an idol factory.”

There are 8 possible idol candidates. Money: Success: Being Smart: Attractiveness:

Relationship: Pleasure: Work: Reputation:

Look at the list and put a mental check mark next to the idol that you are attached to. Which of these do you find yourself thinking about the most? Which one of these do you most fear losing?

Money: Success: Smart: Attractiveness: Relationship: Pleasure: Work: Reputation:

Which one gives you a sense of identity? Which one do you look to, to make you feel secured?

Money: Success: Smart: Attractiveness: Relationship: Pleasure: Work: Reputation:

Which one of these do you most want to be known for? Which one causes your emotion to go up and down?

Money: Success: Smart: Attractiveness: Relationship: Pleasure: Work: Reputation:

Which one do you put in the most efforts? You sacrifice the most for? Which one would your friends say is your most likely idol?

Money: Success: Smart: Attractiveness: Relationship: Pleasure: Work: Reputation:

Tim Keller in “Counterfeit God” wrote, “The central principle of the Bible is the rejection of idolatry.” Why is it that God hates idolatry so much? God hates it for what it does to us, because it train wrecks our lives.

The cost of committing idolatry: First, it will cost you the purpose that God has for your life.

The sinful human hearts want a spirituality that taps into the secret power in the universe, to get what they want without being held accountable for what is right and good and just and holy. And idolatry is perfect for this kind of pseudo spirituality.

The sad part is after you sacrificed your principles, your friends and family, your soul and faith, to get what you wanted; you discover that they (money or success) have no lasting value.

Second, it will cost your children and their children. You will discover that your idolatry has bad consequences for your children and their children.

Ex 20: 5, You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 

Your bad decision affects not only you but your children and their children. You miss the purpose of God and they reap the punishment from God. When Solomon married foreign wives and brought idols to Israel…

Ex 20:6, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments

When you put God first, and seek God’s best for your life, you and your children will experience the steadfast love of God for many generations. When David served God with a full heart…

When you put God first, you experience the freedom from sin and death through His death, and you experience immortality and life through His resurrection. Therefore, remove the idols from your lives and put God first in your hearts.

44