By this we mean: What kind of love takes away from the full love we owe to God? The prophets of the Old and New Testaments answered this question very clearly. We take love away from God by treating God as if He were “second best.” We do this when we follow another’s will instead of keeping God’s commandments. We do it when we trust people or things more than we trust the God who made us. We do it when we worship or pray to others. When an enemy tried to make Jesus divide His love in these ways, Jesus replied,
“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10).
God desires and demands first place in our hearts and lives. He cannot accept second place, for that would be a lie. Simple honesty requires that God alone be recognized and treated with the highest honor. No other can claim the kind of honor that should go to God.
I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols (Isaiah 42:8).
ERV: I am the LORD. My name is Yahweh. I will not let statues take the praise that should be mine.