At the core of the Decalogue, we find a clear proclamation: You shall have no other gods before me. This is the first commandment, an affirmation of the centrality of the one true God in our lives. It reflects God's singularity and the exclusivity of our worship. It is a call for us to acknowledge that He is the only one worthy of our complete reverence and love.
You shall have no other gods before me.The verse Exodus 20:3 presents a direct and indisputable instruction. God, in His sovereignty, does not permit the worship of other gods. He is the only true God, the creator of all that exists. The verse reinforces the need to make God absolutely central in our lives.
Biblical Examples
- The rich young man fails to put God first (Mark 10:17-22). The young man approached Jesus with a question about what to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give to the poor. However, the rich young man hesitated because he had great wealth. This example shows how the young man put his wealth before his love for God, thereby violating the first commandment.
- King Solomon disobeys the first commandment (1 Kings 11:1-10). Solomon, despite being a wise king, disobeyed the first commandment by taking many foreign wives who led him to worship other gods. His heart turned away from God, and he began to build high places for foreign gods. This displeased God, who had appeared to Solomon twice and specifically instructed him not to follow other gods.
- Israel worships the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6). While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments from God, the Israelites built and worshipped a golden calf. Their idolatry disregarded the first commandment, which instructs not to have other gods besides God. The impatience and lack of faith in the Lord led the Israelites to commit this grave sin.
Complementary Verses
Deuteronomy 6:5
... Love the Lord your God with all your heart ...Deuteronomy 6:5 extends the first commandment by highlighting the need not only to acknowledge God's exclusivity but also to love Him intensely with all our heart, soul, and strength. The centrality of God is not just a matter of obedience, but of deep love and devotion. This love manifests in obedience to His commands and in an intimate, personal relationship with Him. Loving God this way implies putting Him above all other things and prioritizing Him in every aspect of life.
Matthew 22:37-38
... Greatest commandment: love God above all things ...In Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus reaffirms God's centrality by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5. He states that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment because all other commandments hinge on this central love for God. If we love God above everything else, we will naturally obey His commandments and avoid putting anything above Him. The centrality of God in our life leads us to a life of obedience and worship.
1 John 5:21
... Keep yourselves from idols ...1 John 5:21 is a warning against idolatry and reaffirms God's centrality. Idolatry, in its broadest sense, can be anything we put above God in our lives. This can be money, career, relationships, hobbies, or even our own desires and ambitions. Keeping ourselves from idols means avoiding anything that might usurp God's place in our hearts. This reinforces the need to keep God as the most important and central thing in our lives.
The examples above show that the violation of the first commandment occurs when people put anything before God in their lives. Whether it's wealth, as in the case of the rich young man, relationships, as in Solomon's case, or even anxiety and impatience, as with the Israelites and the golden calf.
The first commandment requires that God be the priority in our lives. This means that all of our actions, thoughts, and desires should be oriented towards His glory. When we allow anything to take the place of God in our hearts, we are violating this fundamental commandment.
Therefore, it is essential that we constantly examine our hearts and our lives to ensure that we are keeping God as our main focus. We should strive to love God above all things, and allow that love to guide all of our actions and decisions.
Practical Application
Living out the first commandment daily
To apply the first commandment in our daily lives, we must put God at the center of everything. This means that all our actions, thoughts, and decisions should reflect His will. For example, when deciding on a career or a relationship, we should seek God's guidance before making any decision. By doing this, we are acknowledging that God is the supreme authority in our lives and that we should not put anything or anyone above Him. Furthermore, we should avoid anything that could become a 'god' in our lives, such as money, success, or pleasure.Keeping God at the center in all situations
In all situations, whether good or bad, we should keep God at the center. This means that we should seek His presence in all circumstances. If we are going through a tough time, we should seek God's help and guidance. If we are going through a time of joy and prosperity, we should give thanks to God and acknowledge that all good things come from Him. By doing this, we are acknowledging God's centrality and fulfilling the first commandment.Avoiding idolatry in all its forms
The first commandment is clear: We should not have any gods other than God. This means that we should avoid idolatry in all its forms. Idolatry is not just worshipping idols of wood or stone, but also putting anything or anyone above God. For example, if we put our work, our family, our money, or our success above God, we are committing idolatry. Therefore, we should constantly check our hearts and ensure that God is always at the top of our priorities.