The First Commandment
You must not have other gods.
Q. What does this mean?
A. We must fear, love, and trust God more than anything else.
Often, when we think of gods, we think of images made from stone, wood, or metal. We may think of "human" gods such as kings, emperors, yes even presidents and politicians. But Luther reminds us that anything in which we trust more than the Triune God is idolatry. For many Americans the term "The Almighty Dollar" is a deification of the American capitalist system. Americans have seen the dollar sign as a remedy or tonic for whatever ails society or the world at a particular time. Americans freely give money to foreign powers, but are poor at taking the time to "nation build." Many Americans substitute material things for actual love and spending quantity time with our children.
Luther writes: "See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another," i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other.
God wants to be first in our life. Does that mean God is selfish? Nay! For in Luther's conclusion he states that if we truly "fear, love, and trust in God" then we will also "love our neighbor as ourselves." God equates love for and kindness to strangers as love for and kindness to him. As James writes, "If you cannot love someone you see, how can you love God whom you cannot see?"
Luther also addresses the materialistic American society: "This I must unfold somewhat more plainly, that it may be understood and perceived by ordinary examples of the contrary. Many a one thinks that he has God and everything in abundance when he has money and possessions; he trusts in them and boasts of them with such firmness and assurance as to care for no one. Lo, such a man also has a god, Mammon by name, i.e., money and possessions, on which he sets all his heart, and which is also the most common idol on earth. He who has money and possessions feels secure, and is joyful and undismayed as though he were sitting in the midst of Paradise. On the other hand, he who has none doubts and is despondent, as though he knew of no God. For very few are to be found who are of good cheer, and who neither mourn nor complain if they have not Mammon. This [care and desire for money] sticks and clings to our nature, even to the grave."
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