Short Sermons on the Commandments by W. A. McCutchen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

Short Sermons on the Commandments

By W. A. McCutchen

The First Commandment

W. A. MC CUTCHEN

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Ex. 20:3. The directness with which the Lord enters into the matter, as well as the language employed in this command, shows a recognition of the fact that man is a worshipful being—that he will have some god and worship it.

This has been found to be true of all men from the beginning down through all the ages, civilized or uncivilized. Whether in the densest ignorance and degradation or in the most enlightened state, whether in the grasp of the most debasing heathenism and barbarity or on the pinnacle of the highest intellectual and spiritual development, all men have had, and will continue to have and to pay homage to, some sort of god. Even those who claim “there is no god,” and indignantly refuse to have one “foisted” upon them, will and do worship an idea, and make that a god; for whatever is first in one’s esteem, and to which he is heartily devoted, becomes to him a god.

Thus the very disclaimer of the atheist, and his repudiation of any god, and his devotion to the idea, are his god, and he pays homage thereto in spite of himself; for they are first and foremost to him, enshrined in his heart and vehemently proclaimed to the world by him. See how he will endure social ostracism and risk business interests for adherence to, and advocacy of, his idea in sections where it is not popular. It is very much akin to that condition and spirit that Macaulay speaks of when he says: “The only good experience of many ages proves that men may be ready to fight to the death and to persecute without pity, for a religion whose creed they do not understand, and whose precepts they habitually disobey.”

Paul says, “There be gods many, and lords many,” and speaks of those “whose God is their belly.” Phil. 3:19. If one can make this part of his anatomy and the appetite it stands for his god, he can certainly make an idea his god.

It is plain that all men, consciously or unconsciously, have—and God knew from the beginning that they would have—a god, and worship the same. It is a need of man’s being. It is inherent in his nature. Being a created intelligence, the workmanship of Another, the product of a force and power outside of himself, and not the originator of his own being, he is a dependent creature. As he arrives at the years of rational meditation, he becomes conscious of this fact, and feels the need of a power above himself. Thus naturally he turns to what he conceives to be god, for the help he needs.

It is no argument against this universal recognition of man’s need and his attempts to have that need supplied, that some untutored peoples worship certain animals, the chieftain of their tribes, the Great Spirit, or unknown forces. In this they are but worshiping that which they consider superior to themselves, and so their conceptions of God, but a god which can not meet the needs of their natures. None but the true God, the author of their being, can do this. Hence the command, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

It should be taken into account that God’s prohibition in this command against having other gods, rests not alone upon his right to our service and worship to the exclusion of any other being. Surely no one will deny his right in the matter. He is the author of our being, and has the right to demand our whole-hearted service, which he does. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matt. 22:37. He who constructs a machine has a right to the service of that machine. But God’s demand in this matter, as in all things, is not simply because of his right to make the demand, which no one could call in question, but because it is for man’s good. This has ever been true of all the demands the Lord has ever made of mankind. “And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always.” “To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good.” Deut. 6:24; 10:13. It was because he alone, of all the gods that were in the world, or ever would be, could meet man’s needs, that he gave the command, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

And it should be remarked that this command does not mean that we may have other gods also, provided we put the giver of this precept first; for, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve,” is a command of the same God, and equally obligatory upon his creatures. The language, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” does not mean, “Thou mayest have other gods after me.” To change but a word without violence to the thought, the command may be taken to read, “Thou shalt have no other gods but me.”

Keene, Tex.