First Things First
The Commandments & Me • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewIn this sermon, we explore the profound significance of the First Commandment and how it calls us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else in a world filled with competing idols and distractions.
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Transcript
Scripture Invitation
Scripture Invitation
Brothers and sisters, I invite you to turn your hearts and Bibles to the powerful words of Exodus chapter 20, verses 1 through 3.
It is here that the Holy Spirit lays the foundation for our journey into our sermonic topic “First Things First”
Bible Passage
Bible Passage
Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me.
Introduction
Introduction
Come with me to a place after God has miraculously delivered the Israelites from generations of slavery in Egypt.
Through mighty acts and wonders, God has proven His power, love, and faithfulness to His chosen people.
Now, as they gather at the base of Mount Sinai, God is about to give them the Ten Commandments - a blueprint for how to live in right relationship with Him and with others.
The very first commandment God gives is a call to exclusive devotion and loyalty.
In a world filled with many gods and idols, the Lord declares, "You shall have no other gods before me."
This is not a suggestion or a preference, but a command.
God is saying, "I alone am to be your God.
I am to have the supreme place in your affections, your priorities, and your worship."
In our modern world, we may not bow down to statues or images like people did in ancient times.
But are there still false gods and idols that compete for our devotion and priority?
What are the things that can subtly take God's rightful place in our hearts if we're not careful?
The Preeminence of God in Our Lives
The Preeminence of God in Our Lives
The first commandment reminds us that nothing and no one is to take precedence over God in our lives.
"The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without a purpose."
And our highest purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
When we put God first, everything else falls into its proper place.
But when we allow other things to usurp God's position, our lives fall into disorder and dysfunction.
You see, idolatry is not just about bowing down to a false god.
It's about giving ultimate worth and value to anything other than God Himself.
It's about building our lives around something other than God as our center.
"Idolatry is when you give the creator's place to something in creation."
Whenever we love, trust, or obey anything more than we love, trust and obey God, we have slipped into idolatry.
Identifying and Rejecting False Idols
Identifying and Rejecting False Idols
So what are some of the false gods and idols that vie for our devotion today?
For some, it may be the pursuit of wealth, status, and success.
We can get so caught up in climbing the corporate ladder or keeping up with the Joneses that we neglect our relationship with God.
For others, relationships can become idols - whether it's a romantic partner, our children, or even our church leaders.
We can look to them to meet needs that only God can truly fulfill.
Even good things like ministry and service can become idols if we're not careful.
We can get so busy doing things for God that we forget to cultivate our relationship with God.
"You can be so busy trying to be relevant that you forget to be holy."
We need to regularly examine our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where we have allowed something else to take God's rightful place.
Cultivating an Undivided Heart for God
Cultivating an Undivided Heart for God
The antidote to idolatry is wholehearted devotion to God.
As the Psalmist declared, "Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name" (Psalm 86:11).
An undivided heart is one that is fully surrendered and committed to God above all else.
It's a heart that says with the Apostle Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).
Cultivating an undivided heart requires intentionality and discipline.
It means carving out time daily to seek God through prayer and the study of His Word.
It means surrounding ourselves with people and influences that will stir our affections for God rather than competing for them.
"You can't just go with the flow, you've got to row against the current of this world system."
We must actively resist the pull of idolatry and keep God first.
The Blessings of Putting God First
The Blessings of Putting God First
When we prioritize our relationship with God and keep Him first in our lives, we open ourselves up to experience His abundant blessings.
As Jesus promised, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).
When we honor God with the first and best of our time, talents, and treasure, He promises to pour out His favor and provision in our lives.
But even more than material blessings, putting God first aligns us with our true purpose and fills us with joy and peace that the world cannot give.
Im here to tell you today, ”When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable."
When we discover and live out God's purpose for our lives by keeping Him first, we experience the abundant life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).
Closing
Closing
As I close, I want to remind you that we serve a God who is jealous for our wholehearted devotion and affection.
He is not content to be one of many priorities in our lives - He desires and deserves to be THE priority.
So as you go from this place today, I challenge you to take a hard look at your life and ask yourself: Is God truly first? Or have I allowed other things to take His place?
Ask yourself, Have I been more passionate about my career than my Creator?
Have I been more devoted to my hobbies than to holiness?
Have I been more concerned about what people think than about what God thinks?
If you've drifted into idolatry, today is the day to repent and return to your first love.
Today is the day to declare like Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).
For when you put God first:
There is purpose in the pursuit
There is meaning in the mundane
There is joy in the journey
There is peace in the storm
There is hope in the heartache
There is strength in the struggle
There is favor in the fire
There is wisdom in the waiting
There is growth in the grinding
There is fruit in the faithfulness
When you keep God as the one and only God in your life, everything else falls into place.
You begin to experience the abundant life He came to give you.
So I invite you today to recommit yourself to the first and greatest commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
May He be first in your affections, first in your attention, and first in your allegiance, now and forevermore.
