The First Commandment

People smarter than me have said the Ten Commandments are the Top Ten list

summarizing all the laws of God… and Jesus’ two greatest Commandments summarize the Ten.

“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40).

If you have not yet read the introductory column, you may do so here.

Let us, then, begin a walk through each of the Commandments, looking at them in a little

more depth. The Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Remember

where these are for easy access.

#1. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.

Everything begins with the first one. If we do not "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength"; we have already broken His Commandments. I am

reminded of the Presbyterian preacher’s pastoral prayer, which often began with, “Father, we confess that even this morning we have not loved you with all our heart and soul and mind and

strength, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.” We ALL fail this one because we

are all sinful, selfish, and self-centered. WE desire to be first and the center of the universe.

When I was a kid, there was a teaching cartoon on Saturday mornings that included a song

encouraging this kind of narcissism: "The most important person in the whole wide world is

YOU and you hardly even know you."; We do not want parents, teachers, bosses, police officers,

administrators, leaders, lawmakers, presidents, kings, or even road signs telling us what to do.

Meanwhile, we desire that others serve us. Everything should be to our benefit. And we desire

to use others for our personal benefit.

What things do we desire more than God? The old saying is that we should look at where

we spend our time, talent, and treasure: Pleasure, happiness, satisfaction, sex, love, women,

men, family, children, money, career, talents, sports, entertainment, praise, fame, hobbies,

things, etc. What fills our hearts? What are we always thinking about or striving towards? What

are our favorite daydreams about? What do we fully pursue? What are our life goals? To

what do we dedicate our time? What do we spend a lot of money on? What is it that when it is

taken away or someone says “no” to it, we get most angered? Each of these point to our gods.

Of course, all gods who are not YHWH are false gods. The Bible says that the gods of all the

nations are idols (Psalm 96:5); Paul tells us they are demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). It is YHWH

who made the heavens and the earth. The false gods cannot see, hear, or speak (Psalm 115:5- 6). They cannot save (Isaiah 45:20). They cannot tell you what will happen in the future (Isaiah

41:21-24).

Praying to anyone or anything else, seeking mediation or merit from anyone else, or trusting in

anyone or anything else is idolatry. Allah does not exist. Vishnu and Krishna do not exist. The

Greek, Roman, and Pagan gods do not exist. Buddha was not God. Mohammed was not God’s

prophet. Mary does not hear prayers. No pope or priest is a mediator. We are not waiting for

Messiah; He has already come. All other religions prove to be false. Astrology is false. Wicca is

false. The earth is not our mother. WE are not gods, as per the New Age and Mormons. False views

of Christ are not God: The “Jehovah's Witnesses,” "Christian" Scientists, rainbow flag

progressive churches, Unitarian Universalists, etc. Atheism is false. Humanism is false.

Mankind loves to worship, but prefers beauty, nature, music, fame, stars and starlets,

athletes, perfect bodies, dogs, cats, and even politicians. People will love and adore these things

over God, who created the beauty we “worship” in many of these things. When we chase joy,

happiness, ecstasy, peace, we are replacing God with those things. With Him, we will find all

those things. Chase those things alone, and we will lose Him.

Making humanity, justice, equity, diversity, etc., the central focus of our lives will only serve

to draw us away from God, in violation of the Commandment. “But seek first his kingdom and

his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). You do not

get everything here and now in a fallen world, but with God, you know all will be made right in

the end.

Only YHWH, the God of the Bible, made and created you, gifted you, and put you here in

time and place for a purpose. No false god sustains you. No one else provides rain and sun,

food and shelter, family and friends. “[The] Father in heaven… causes his sun to rise on the evil

and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). God is the

source of true love, joy, peace, goodness, light, happiness, etc. “Every good and perfect gift is

from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17). To Him alone we owe total allegiance,

total worship, total reverence, total service, total dedication of our lives. Thanksgiving and

gratitude are the least of the things He deserves from us. Romans 1:18 and on tell us about this.

It also reveals our rejection of God. Praise, worship, adoration, and obedience are those

things that should flow from hearts of thanksgiving and gratitude. They lead us closer and

closer to obedience to this Commandment.

So, already, after ONE Command, we are guilty of breaking God’s Law. We stand

condemned before His Law. Christians should know what James tells us: “For whoever keeps

the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). The

Jews, who seem to believe they can be saved by the Law or good works (or by simply being one

of the “Chosen People”) need to heed God’s words: "Cursed is the man who does not uphold

the words of this law by carrying them out” (Deuteronomy 27:26) or as Rabbi Paul expounds:

“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who

does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (Galatians 3:10).

We are destitute and lost.

Jews and Gentiles alike need a remedy, a ransom, a Savior, a Messiah. This is what the first

Three chapters of Romans are all about!

Steve Drain