Life is about priorities.  We do the things that we do every day because it’s what is important to us.  We go to work because it is a priority that we earn a living to pay our bills.  We send our children to school because it is a priority that our kids get a good education.  We exercise because it is a priority that we stay healthy.  We make choices every day and rate our choices by what is most important to us.  Our actions demonstrate our priorities and what is most important to us.

While Moses and the Israelites are in the wilderness after escaping Egypt, Moses met with God on Mount Sinai.  The mountain was wrapped in smoke and shook.  When Moses would speak to God, God would answer in thunder (Exodus 19:17-19).  The people waited at the bottom of the mountain and were forbid to even touch the mountain.  God then summoned Moses to the top of the mountain.  It is on this mountain that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

God gave us the Ten Commandments – that not even one of us – have the ability or the capability to follow.  Why did God do that?  Why did God give us rules that we cannot live by or keep?  We fail on all accounts!

Here is what I think…I believe that there is ‘really’ only one commandment that matters the most.  With this one commandment, all the other commandments fall into place.  It is the first commandment: “Love the Lord your God – you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1-3).

What are other gods?  Well, it’s all those other priorities in life that we put before God!  Instead of worshipping on Sunday morning, we may sleep in.  Sleep or laziness becomes a priority before God – it becomes our god.  Instead of making sure our children know Jesus and are educated in a Christ environment, our children attend soccer, baseball, or other activities.  Sports becomes a priority before God – another god.   Instead of tithing and building the Kingdom of God, we spend our money on things that we don’t need, but want.  Materialism is a god and we may have the tendency to worship our money.  Any time we put other things before our relationship with our Lord, God then – is not our priority.

What are your priorities in your life today?  Are you making your relationship with God your priority?  How can you begin today to put God first – to put away other gods. God first in your life has the potential to change your life!  It’s about priorities!  Life is about making God your priority!

Let us pray…Gracious God, we are guilty of having other gods that have gotten in the way of our relationship with you. Help us to recognize that we do not put you first.  Help us to see the other gods as imposters to what brings us joy.  This we pray in your name, Amen.