The LORD Whose Name is Jealous

Exodus 34:14

[14]-for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God-

The Bible challenges its readers, especially the believers, to choose between God and something else. The God whose name is Jealous wouldn't tolerate. A rival for attention. Unlike the pagan gods who are okay with a pantheon (in fact they are probably happy for more gods and goddesses means more objects to hump, I mean lust after, excuse my language), God clearly does not allow competition. The number one sin of His people is not murder or rape, bad as they are, but idolatry. Idolatry lead people away from God, away from His word, and finally who cares if what you are doing is not right since God wouldn't notice, or maybe there is no God, right only gods who cater to human whims? So God takes idolatry seriously. And repeatedly the Bible ask His people to choose:

Joshua 24:15

[15]If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua takes spiritual leadership for his family. He is not worshipping objects made of wood that has eyes but cannot see or ears but cannot hear, BUT will only worship and serve Yahweh. Apparently Joshua did not know that all roads lead to God or other politically correct ideas of the gospel of tolerance. No sir, for Joshua it is Yahweh and no one else. 

Elijah is just as intolerant. Bigoted Elijah says:

1 Kings 18:21

[21]Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.

He does not believe in accommodation or syncretism. It is Yahweh or Baal. 

And if you think that well we are past Baalim and Asherim and so there is no way you'll be guilty of idolatry, here is what Jesus has to say:

Matthew 6:19-24

[19]"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

[20]But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

[21]for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

[22]"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

[23]But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

[24]"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 

We worship a god called MAMON, (WEALTH). How many have forgotten God in the name of "working to better the existing financial condition" or to "provide a better life for the children". How many aspired to be able to come to a point where you can build big barns and say to your soul, "Eat and be merry for you will never be working again" only to die that very night and to Solomon's chagrin passed on to the successor who may be stupid and lose it all in a minute? Paul called this idolatry, Ephesians 5:5. Working is not evil, the Bible tells His people to work or not eat, and to work and help others, and to work and provide for the family because whose who don't are worse than unbelievers. But work can be a god. Money can be a god and it is ironic that many collect it just to pierce their own soul, or so Paul tells Timothy. 

That is why the Bible repeatedly says to look from the things above and not below, to not love the world and its lusts, to focus on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, to not be molded but to metamorphose in the renewing of the mind. 

We are asked to choose on a daily basis- God or something else. One cannot be in darkness and at the same time claim godliness. And darkness may include morality apart from God.

(Kung gusto ninyo ng karagdagang impormasyon, bisitahin ninyo kami. May pagtitipon kami sa Dahat, kada Linggo, alas 8:30-10:30 am. Sa Amoguis, 1:00-3:00 pm. Sana manampalataya kayo at kita-kita tayo.)