We often think of Idolatry in terms of Pagan Worship of objects or mythical beings.
<p>
 Worship is an action based on how we value something. Idolatry in its essence is an issue of what we Value most.  Rather than thinking of Worship and Idolatry and Paganism which conger up complex issues focus on Value .
<p>
When we Value something we invest in it with out time, our finances, our attention and other resources.
<p>
Whatever we Value most is what we Worship .  We may not consider it Worship but God does.  
<p>
Why did God give the first Commandment?
<br><br>
 Exodus 20:3 <br><i>
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.</i>
<p>
When I was a young Christian I saw this Commandment as representing a Jealous God (which the Scripture does say).  What I failed to take into consideration is that God was now dealing with Israel on the basis of Law rather than Grace .  Law has to be unequivocal.  Law is intended to act as a force to accomplish its purpose.
<p>
This Commandment was forcing the Israelites to Value first and foremost the Creator God .  Why?
<p>
In valuing God properly the Israelites would be beneficiaries of the Blessings that flow from obeying His Spiritual Laws .  It was God`s Will that Israel be blessed.  The only way those blessings would flow was in the context of obeying Spiritual Law .  That`s why He commanded them to Value Him and His Spiritual Laws above all else.
<p>
Whenever we do not Value God and what He says above everything else, we are committing Idolatry .  Whay is wrong with Idolatry ?
<p>
It deprives us of God`s blessings.  God Loves us and wants us to experience all the wonderful things He has prepared for us.
<p>
But, He cannot violate His own Spiritual Laws .  We Receive from God by Faith .  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God .  This word `Hearing` also connotes Believing and Obeying .
<p>
When we Value anything more than God we are injecting Doubt into our lives.  This disconnects us from God`s blessings.
<p>
This is why Idolatry is so wrong.
<p>
Manifestations of Idolatry :
<ul>
<li> my opinion
<li> someone else`s opinion
<li> not reading the Word 
<li> not Praying 
<li> not attending Church 
<li> not Giving 
<li> child rearing
<li> pet loving
<li> not Witnessing 
</ul>
<p>
Remember, God does not Hate you for these areas of unfaithfulness, but you are depriving yourself of His blessings by such behavior.
<p>
Additional mini-studies follow.
<hr>
 Exodus 34:14 <br><i>
for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:</i>
<p>
To worship is to value highly, to appreciate fully.  To be jealous is to resent another because of what they have or are.
<p>
God`s name is Jealous?  Wow! what point was He making in giving Moses this statement?
<p>
Everything is upheld by the Word of the Power of Christ Jesus.  Everything means EVERYTHING. This does not leave room for anything or anyone else to get credit.
<p>
When we come to the realization that everything about us is a Gift from God , then we begin to Worship Him properly.  The earth is the Lord`s and the Fullness thereof.
<p>
Rejoice in Him who loves you, Created you and Redeemed you to Himself!
<hr>
 Deuteronomy 8:19 <br><i>
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God , and walk after other gods, and serve them, and Worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.</i>
<p>
One of the misconceptions of God that come from the Old Testament is related to the tone and passive/active nature of the text.  In the above, you can take this as a threat from God or as a statement of fact.
<p>
As in most of the Old Testament, this is a statement of fact.  It does not represent God`s active will.  He is simply saying that failure to honor, respect, fear, acknowledge, and reverence God results in Death ,
<p>
We see this in our society today.  Half of Americans have forsaken God in every practical sense.  The result is that destructive forces are at work the result of which is Death .
<p>
For those people in your Life that ~don`t get it~, help them Understand that there are only two paths to follow: Life and Death . Keep telling them that there is a God who Loves them, who can give them Abundant , Eternal Life through Christ Jesus . 
<p>
There is Salvation in no other.
<hr>
 Deuteronomy 11:16 <br><i>
Take heed to yourselves, that your Heart be not Deceived , and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and Worship them;</i>
<p>
The key word in this verse is ` Deceived `.  I daresay no one just decides to stop honoring God .  The deceitfulness of sin gets some.  But I think most Idolatry occurs because people who honor God just get involved with too many other things.  
<p>
How the Deceit occurs or how far into idolatry a person goes is not so important.  The fact that we unknowingly disconnect ourselves from the Fountain of Life is the shame.
<p>
Clean your life up, not because what you do is wrong, but because your Relationship with God is the real Treasure of Life .
<hr>
 Deuteronomy 30:17 <br><i>
But if thine Heart turn away, so that thou wilt not Hear , but shalt be drawn away, and Worship other gods, and serve them;</i>
<p>
Have you turned your attention?
Have you stopped listening?
Have you gotten involved with other things?<br>
Do you feel trapped?
<p>
Your Heavenly Father is your Life !<br>  
 Fellowship with Him.
<hr>
 Deuteronomy 29:26 <br><i>
for they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:</i>
<p>
A lot of euphoria about championship game.  I challenge you to get as excited about God as you did for UNC.
<p>
He`s the real deal.
<hr>
 Isaiah 2:8 <br><i>
their land also is full of idols; they Worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:</i>
<p>
 God doesn`t need our Worship .  We need to Worship because it connects us to who we really are.  When we are disconnected from God we automatically Worship something else.
<p>
Stay connected, my friend.
<hr>
 Isaiah 2:20 <br><i>
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;</i>
<p>
Why would a person do this - take the things they value most and cast them away?
<p>
 Revelation of the beauty, the loveliness of the True and Living God .  Understanding of His Love , Receiving it, Reveling in it.
<p>
If you are not experiencing Joy it is simply a matter of what you Treasure , where your Heart is.  
 Jesus made it possible for you to experience His Joy , but you will only find it in Him.
<hr>
 Isaiah 46:6 <br><i>
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they Worship .</i>
<p>
Stuff is good.  But when stuff distracts you from spending time with God , it is Idolatry .
<p>
The problem with idolatry is that it cuts you off from Relationship with your Creator and Savior .
<p>
That`s why God hates it.  It deprives Him of you and you of Him.
<hr>
 Jeremiah 1:16 <br><i>
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.</i>
<p>
 Satan would have us pre-occupied with `little sins` so that we aren`t conscious of the `big one`.
<p>
What`s the `big one`?
<br><br>
 Idolatry .
<p>
This Sin manifests itself most often in self-worship.  That was Satan`s Sin , too.
<p>
 Jesus proved God`s worthiness of Worship through His loving Sacrifice for each of us.
<p>
The Judgment for £dolatry is Death .  It is not a penalty that God has to administer.  He is Life .  To connect yourself to anything other than Him is Death .
<p>
Choose Life !   Jesus came that we might have it Abundantly .  He is Life .  Worship Him!
<p>
<br>
