“You shall have no other gods before me.”
God desires for us to be successful in whatever we undertake. However, the Bible warns us not to let success “go to our head.” We should not have an arrogant attitude toward success so that our principal focus is our achievements. When that happens, we have allowed success to become an idol in our lives.
The first commandment warns us not to have any other gods before the Lord. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Deuteronomy 5:6-7 NIV). An idol is anything that takes God’s rightful place as number one in our lives. Our principal focus must always be on Jesus Christ.
What idols have subtly found their way into our lives—success, family, children, spouse, work, materialism, physical beauty, Facebook, the internet, food? These things have their proper place. However, the Lord desires preeminence. When we allow the Lord His rightful place, we will live successful lives. Rather than shining the spotlight on ourselves, let’s shine it on the Lord so that He receives the glory for the success He has granted us.
Dear Lord, help me to live successfully by keeping my focus on you, not myself. Show me anything that I have allowed to become an idol in my life. Amen.