God's LawCommandment 1: You shall have no other gods before Me
The Foundation of All Worship
The First Commandment stands as the bedrock of our relationship with God. When the Lord thundered these words from Mount Sinai, He was not merely establishing a religious rule—He was defining the very essence of covenant love. "You shall have no other gods before Me" is an invitation into exclusive devotion, a call to recognize that the Creator of the universe desires not just our acknowledgment, but our wholehearted affection and supreme allegiance.
This commandment addresses the fundamental question: Who will be the ultimate authority in your life? It's not about physical idols or religious methodology—it's about lordship. Who sits on the throne of your heart? Whose voice has final say in your decisions? Whose approval do you seek above all others?
The God Who Deserves First Place
Before commanding exclusive worship, God reminded Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" (Exodus 20:2). The commandment rests on relationship and redemption. God doesn't demand first place as a tyrant asserting power, but as a loving Redeemer who has already proven His faithfulness. He rescued His people from slavery, provided for them in the wilderness, and entered into covenant relationship with them.
The same is true for us. Through Jesus Christ, God has redeemed us from the slavery of sin, adopted us as His children, and promised us eternal life. His claim to our supreme allegiance is rooted in His redemptive love. When we recognize what He has done for us, worship becomes not a burden but a joy, not duty but delight.
Modern Competitors for God's Throne
In our contemporary world, few people bow to statues of Baal or Asherah, yet the First Commandment remains urgently relevant. The question is not whether we will worship, but what we will worship. The human heart is, as Calvin said, "a perpetual factory of idols." We constantly elevate created things to the position that belongs only to the Creator.
The Idol of Wealth and Success: Money is perhaps the most common rival god in modern society. Jesus recognized this when He declared, "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money" (Matthew 6:24). When financial security becomes our ultimate concern, when career advancement drives our major decisions, when accumulating possessions consumes our thoughts and energy—money has become our functional god, regardless of what we profess on Sundays.
The test is simple: What would you refuse to surrender if God asked? What do you think about during idle moments? Where do you turn first when crisis strikes—to your bank account or to your Heavenly Father? If God asked you to make a choice that would cost you financially but align with His will, which would you choose? Your honest answer reveals your true god.
The Idol of Relationships and Approval: The desire for human acceptance, romantic fulfillment, or family approval can subtly usurp God's rightful place. When we compromise biblical convictions to maintain relationships, when we alter our behavior based on who's watching, when our emotional stability depends entirely on human affirmation—we've made people our god. Social media has amplified this temptation exponentially, creating an environment where we constantly perform for an audience, seeking validation through likes, shares, and comments.
Jesus warned about this very danger: "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44). The fear of man brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25), but those who trust in the Lord are safe.
The Idol of Comfort and Pleasure: Our entertainment-saturated culture tempts us to make personal comfort and pleasure our ultimate goal. When we structure our lives around leisure and amusement, when binge-watching takes priority over Bible study, when we instinctively reach for our devices before talking to God, when we won't sacrifice comfort for obedience—pleasure has become our god. The apostle Paul warned of those "whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things" (Philippians 3:19).
The Idol of Self: Perhaps the most subtle and dangerous idol is ourselves. The modern emphasis on "finding yourself," "being true to yourself," and "following your heart" can easily devolve into self-worship. When "my truth" replaces God's truth, when "my happiness" becomes the supreme value regardless of God's will, when "self-care" means never being uncomfortable or challenged—we've enthroned ourselves where God alone should reign. This is the oldest temptation: "You will be like God" (Genesis 3:5).
Choosing God First: Practical Obedience
Obeying the First Commandment requires deliberate, daily choices that demonstrate God's supremacy:
God Before Schedule: Give God the first and best of your time, not the leftovers. Begin each day with prayer and Scripture before checking email, news, or social media. Prioritize corporate worship and Sabbath rest, refusing to let work, sports, or entertainment crowd out sacred time with God. This is about more than time management—it's about declaring through our choices that God takes precedence over everything else.
God Before Success: Make decisions based on God's will rather than career advancement or financial gain. Practice faithful stewardship and tithing, acknowledging that everything you have comes from God's hand. Be willing to obey God even when it costs you professionally or financially. Remember that those who seek first God's kingdom and righteousness will have all necessary things added to them (Matthew 6:33).
God Before Relationships: Love God more than anyone else, even family. Jesus' words are stark: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37). This doesn't mean neglecting family, but it does mean that when choosing between pleasing God and pleasing people—even beloved people—God must come first. It means refusing to compromise biblical convictions for relational harmony.
God Before Self: Practice self-denial and cross-bearing. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). This means submitting your will to God's will, your preferences to His purposes, your comfort to His call. It's the opposite of our culture's self-centered spirituality—it's saying with Christ, "Not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).
The Great Exchange
The First Commandment is not ultimately restrictive—it's liberating. When we dethrone false gods and enthrone the true God, we discover what our hearts were made for. Augustine prayed, "You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Money cannot satisfy the soul. Human approval cannot provide lasting security. Pleasure cannot fill the God-shaped void within us. Only God Himself can.
Moreover, God promises that those who honor Him, He will honor (1 Samuel 2:30). Those who seek first His kingdom will find that He faithfully provides everything they need (Matthew 6:33). Those who love Him supremely will experience a love that surpasses human understanding—a love demonstrated at the cross, secured by the resurrection, and sustained by the Spirit.
The God Who Is Worthy
The First Commandment ultimately points us to the worthiness of God Himself. He deserves first place not merely because He commands it, but because of who He is. He is the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of life, the Redeemer of humanity. He is infinitely powerful, perfectly wise, utterly holy, and boundlessly loving. In Him is no shadow of turning, no failure, no disappointment.
Every other god we're tempted to worship will ultimately fail us. Careers end. Bank accounts empty. Relationships disappoint. Pleasures fade. Our own strength gives out. But the Lord remains faithful forever. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. His mercies are new every morning. His love never fails.
Let us therefore give Him what He deserves and what we were created to give: the supreme devotion of our hearts, the first priority in our lives, the ultimate allegiance of our will. Let us worship Him alone, love Him supremely, and trust Him completely. This is not just duty—it is our highest privilege and deepest joy.