The words we read today have shaped civilizations. Twice God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses (he smashed them the first time when he saw the bad behavior of the Israelites). These commandments have, over the last 3,400 years, proved to be fundamental to stable, nurturing cultures. 

 

When these commands are disobeyed, one common consequence is that both adults and children touched by the disobedience are deeply hurt, sometimes for life. Furthermore, without repentance, those disobeying these commands damage their relationship with God. 

 

Obviously, disobeying God’s commands can cause great pain and brokenness in others. Not so obvious is that obeying the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me,” has enormous benefit for others and our own lives. This command is about what or who we choose to serve, what is important to us, and what motivates us. In fact, whatever takes most of our time—thoughts or money, for example—is our god. God says He must be “Number One” for us. That means I can’t be “Number One” in my life, nor can my stuff or my experiences. 

 

Jesus says the greatest command is “to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.” How would you compare this with “You shall have no other gods before me”? I think they are two sides of the same coin. 

 

As you reread these commandments, pray “God, may You be my priority, come into my heart and help me be Your servant,” and “Help me become motivated by You, may You be the reason for the way I live.” 

 

How do we live so God is “Number One”? First, think about what you do and then ask “Why do I do it?” If the reason you do something is not about God, then maybe you are doing the right things for the wrong reasons, or maybe in God’s eyes what you are doing is wrong. Ask yourself, “Would God want me to do this?”, and if so, “Why?” Sometimes we need to pray to God, “Forgive me for doing this – help me give it up for Your glory.” 

 

It is hard for many of us in this noisy, busy world to find a chance to be alone and quiet with God to work these issues through. But this is what God wants of us. God longs to hear from us. He is interested in everything we do. He wants to walk with us through the good and the bad times. If we can just take time to be with Him at the beginning of each day, and at the end of each day, to think through how the day went and talk to him about it, we will be on the right path. 

 

A fellow traveler, 

 

Roger