Worship No Idols

Biblical Church Worship: A Study of the Ten Commandments 
Exodus 20:4-6

The Second Commandment: Worship No Idols
Readings: Nahum 1:2; Romans 1:18-32; Colossians 1:13-23

Do Not Worship Idols
At first glance, the second commandment seems to prohibit any creative activity.
“You are not to make…
”
God sounds unreasonable at the beginning of this commandment. But if we read the commandment in its entirety, we get a better understanding.

“You are not to make…”
“…you may not give them worship…”

The second of God’s commands does not condemn art, imagination, or creativity. It condemns the worship of what man’s hands have made.

The worship of created things is idolatry. Idolatry elevates created things to the level at which only God belongs. Idolatry replaces the Creator with the created.

Idols come in varying forms. They can be manifested in the traditional sense as images made of wood or metal. They may appear in less subtle forms such a person, a material possession or a worldly position of status. But idols can also be manufactured within our hearts and minds. They can be thoughts and desires. It is sometimes these internal idols which are the most difficult to notice. Whether obvious or hidden, idols are those entities to which we bow down rather than God Himself. They are that which we hold as more precious than the Almighty.

Implication
God is a jealous God. He does not allow His honor and glory to be given to anyone or anything else. The Lord Jesus calls us to leave that which we value over Him and to worship only the Creator.

Questions to Ask Yourself
1. What is it that I value over Jesus Christ?
2. What things am I more devoted to than Jesus Christ?
3. Do I have an unquenchable desire for Christ or for other things?