(2 Kings 17:33) They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods . . .
There used to be the phrase “two-timing” for those who were steadily dating two members of the opposite sex at the same time. Their reputations weren’t that good because they were declared unfaithful to their original boyfriend or girlfriend. There was this sense among the social scene that this was just not right, and it was completely unacceptable. Did that come from the popular love songs that spoke of giving up all others for that one “true love?” I think it went deeper. There was just this feeling down deep inside that you must stay true to the one you have committed to.
And you know what? It’s the same with our relationship with the Lord. God has put a sense of fidelity and commitment in our hearts when it comes to love and loyalty for Him. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). We are to worship the Lord and serve Him only (Mat 4:10). There are to be no idols in our hearts (1 John 5:21).
Listen to what Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money]. (Mat 6:24)
Listen to what James says: Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
The whole book of the Song of Solomon is a picture of the love relationship between not only Solomon and his wife, but also God and Israel, and Christ and the Church. Read the eight short chapters of this book with this in mind and then translate it to your relationship with the Lord.
Israel worshiped the Lord and then worshiped idols. The battle for their affections was always waging in their hearts. Sound familiar? We are not to love the world (1 John 2:15-17) but to love the Lord only. We are not to “two-time” the Lord. The Lord deserves the first and final place in our hearts.
May God’s love fill our hearts so richly that there will be no room for #2!
Louie