Topic(s): Bible Authority, Christian Living, Bible Study

Bob Prichard

The Ten Commandments begin, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2-3). To the Israelites, other gods included Baal, Molech, Dagon, and many other gods of their pagan neighbors. They were a constant temptation to Israel, especially when they were having difficulties, or when they were exceedingly blessed. Even while Moses was on Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, Aaron was back in camp fashioning a golden calf for Israel to worship (Exodus 32).

In subsequent commandments, God warned against the creation of idols, and the worship of them, because He demands first place in the lives of all who will follow Him. The idea of creating a god out of wood or metal or stone, and bowing down before it seems very foreign to the modern mind. Modern man is too sophisticated to do such things, but he has no problem finding other things to worship or put before God.

Worship is the human response to the divine. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). This includes the corporate worship of the church, but also the attitude of heart and mind as to Who or what is primary in a person’s life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6), indicating the exclusivity of His claims. He demands to be first in the lives of His followers, and will accept nothing less and nothing else. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Paul indicates that idolatry has a broader meaning than simply worshiping a statue. He said, “Mortify [put to death] therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). In reality, anything that takes first priority in a person’s life has the potential to become his idol. For many today, leisure activities have no doubt become their idols. For some, their money, time, and energy are totally consumed by leisure and the pursuit of “fun.” While fishing, movies, sleeping late, biking, and any number of other things are not in and of themselves wrong, they become wrong when they crowd God out of lives. With the frenetic pace of modern life, it is important to make time for leisure. Jesus took time to enjoy the wedding feast at Cana (John 2), and would often slip away to a quiet place to commune with His heavenly Father. A balanced life includes some leisure activities, but they should not be the focus of life, so that God’s blessings are misused. If leisure activities prevent one from meeting with the church to worship, or prevent one from supporting the Lord’s work, they are wrong. If leisure activities are so important that there is no time for God, they are wrong. Anything that man puts before, or in place of God, is his idol.