Foundations for Success > First Commandment

"Worship Only God"

Who is in Charge?

The first commandment tells us that we must have no other "gods" in addition to the God who is revealed in creation and in these commandments. God doesn't allow competition. God is God and I am not. God is God and all others who claim to be, are pretenders. God is God and demands to be acknowledged as the only true God. This of course means that God's rules are the ones we follow, no one else's not even our own.

God requires absolute loyalty. We cannot serve two or more "masters." In other words, we can't make God and His commandments our number one priority and at the same time to serve the "god" of greed or selfish pleasure or unprincipled popularity, etc. Our ultimate allegiance can only go to one person or thing. God says it belongs to Him.

Have you ever made a decision about going to particular school or choosing a career or someone to marry? Do you remember how, once this choice was made, you didn't need to think about it any longer? Do you remember how focused and settled you were? Once you make God your "one-and-only-god" it settles it. This is the God I will follow; these are the rules God has established. End of discussion.

Making God your only God means that you will play the game by the creator's rules. We can't say that we love God and ignore the rules of that God. The two actually go together because God's laws are expressions of God's nature. To reject one is to reject the other.

Following God

People who follow God alone are confident. A heart and mind settled in its loyalties is able to act purposefully and quickly. There is no need to stop and deliberate on whose rules you will seek to follow. There is no hesitation or confusion about whose reputation is paramount to you.

Following after God alone also brings increased mental clarity. There is so much inner confusion when we are unsure as to who is over our life or who will be in control. Once our loyalties are settled our minds quickly learn to think God's thoughts, to evaluate as God evaluates, to see as God sees.

When you choose to love God with all of your heart, mind and soul, life takes on the deepest of significance. All of your actions, all of your decisions, everything you do now has a single focus: you want to honor God with who you are becoming and with all that you do, your purpose is to be all that your were created to be-to live a life of passion, productivity, joy and abundance! What are your God Given [Gifts] with others? How do you do this? Check out the rest of the rules!

Read The Next Commandment:
No Pretend Gods