Serving Other Gods?

I keep on my bedside table a little book of daily devotions called, WISDOM OF THE CARPENTER.2 For July 2, the reading (on page 201) is a sentence from the Gospel of Q: “Worship the Lord your God, serving God alone.” The Gospel of Q is thought to have come from an oral tradition of the teachings of Jesus, which evolved into a source for the Gospel of Matthew. This is all discussed in THE LOST GOSPEL3 and other books.

These words are attributed to Jesus as he resists the devil's temptations, notably in Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8. He is quoting the law, specifically Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve him only [emphasis mine]...”

Devout Orthodox Jews recite every morning and evening the Shema, the verses of Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Verse 4 reminds them of the unity of God: “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” And part of the text of the first of the ten commandments, found in Deuteronomy 5:7 says, “You shall have no other gods before me [emphasis mine].”

Included in the Muslim call to prayer, and in the declaration which Muslims make each time they end their five daily prayers, are the words of the Shahada, “There is no god but Allah..." [emphasis mine] Reciting these words reminds them of the supremacy and singularity of God. Moreover, in the Qur'an's first sura (chapter) are the words, “You alone [emphasis mine] we worship, and to You alone [emphasis mine] we turn for help.”

“...serve him only...” “...no other gods...” “...no god but...” “...You alone...” These words demand total allegiance to God, don't they. We spiritual children of Abraham are strictly forbidden to worship any other things. Now, what are examples of other “things” which might be forbidden? Last month, I mentioned money as a possible other master (“You cannot serve two masters...”) or other god. Wealth seems to be a principal goal for many of us in this world, whether we're trying to make ends meet, or trying to accumulate enough for a comfortable retirement. We can easily find ourselves consumed in the struggle to gain wealth, and we usually think we're doing it for the best of reasons.

Power too seems a major goal in our lives, whether we're lifting weights and training to win a competition, or capturing the “right” assets or developing the “right” skills to lead a family or a team, or a community, or a nation. (Recall that in Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8, Jesus was resisting the devil's temptations to power.)

What other “gods” might we be setting up? Youth? Some of us try endless strategies to stay young, or to look younger than we are. Staying physically fit is a “good” goal, but we may have to question cosmetic approaches to appearing different that we are, especially if we're acting out of a “covetous” desire to look younger just to get something.

That devotion for July 2 ends with this little prayer: “Don't let me put anything or anyone ahead of Your will today.” I'll try to remember that loving God and our neighbors, and doing good for them, comes ahead of making more money or gaining more power. Hard as it is, I hope you'll try too.