No Other Gods
"You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)
What is a god you can put before or in place of God? Pastor Eric held this discussion last Sunday during bible study. I picture a person, man or woman, sitting in a room counting money and having many fine things - on some occasions. On others, I picture some kind of person on a mystical journey listening to whomever or whatever personality or philosophy is meeting his or her needs at the time. Evidence on display for this is the selfie-laden social media blasts that go out daily regarding whatever echo chamber we live in at that moment.
The source of gods and list is endless. Here is what Luther says in the Large Catechism on the First Commandment:
"A 'god' is the term for that to which we are to look for all good and in which we are to find refuge in all need. Therefore, to have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in that one with your whole heart. As I have often said, it is the trust and faith of the heart alone that make both God and an idol. If your faith and trust are right, then your God is the true one God. Conversely, where your trust is false and wrong, there you do not have the true God. For these two belong together, faith and God. Anything on which your heart relies on and depends is really your God."
Good, I'm clear then because Luther's definition means God is my God where I put my faith and trust most of the time, BUT Luther, as usual, keeps writing:
"So too, those who boast of great learning, wisdom, power, prestige, family and honor and who trust in them have a god also, but not the one, true God."
Notice again how presumptuous, secure, and proud people are when they have such possessions, and how despondent they are when they lack them or when they are taken away. Therefore, I repeat, the correct interpretation of this commandment is that to have a god is to have something in which the heart completely trusts above all others.
Rather than project my thoughts on others on Facebook and their faults as I think about other gods, I should check myself. In many cases, the other god I put my faith and trust in is...me! And that isn't good. I am a lousy god to follow if I may say so myself.
We pray daily for God's will in our lives, not our own. We pray for God to guide us in good and bad times. We give thanks for all God has done for us, yet the temptation is there to turn and look with pride and say, "Look at what I've done/accomplished."
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)
The temptation is there for us daily, to put ourselves, our thinking, actions and accomplishments on display for others to see and admire, almost as much as I do about myself. Yet, I forget where all that I have comes from and who gave me the talents to begin with.
Pray with me: Gracious God, Turn my face away from my own reflection to look to you. You are the source of all things good in my life. Your grace is sufficient for me. Help me keep my pride in check. I give thanks for all you have done for me in this life, including forgive me when my pride turns me to myself and not you. In all we say or do, thanks be to you, O Lord, and your will be done. In your Son's name, Amen.