The Unworthy Servant

This commandment tells us the very first thing we must do to honor and respect God:
- Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
- Matthew 22:37–38  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38  This is the first and great commandment.

     The religious leaders of Christ's day were opposed to Him. They continually upheld mans traditions that contradicted the Word of God. In effect, they were idolaters because they placed the ideas and practices of men ahead of God. These concepts had become more important to them than the truth revealed in the Scriptures: Matthew 15:1-3 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

     Jesus accused these religious leaders of breaking God's commandments. While they assiduously kept the Sabbath and refrained from misusing God's name, they nevertheless were violating God's law. Notice how Jesus explained this: Matthew 15:4-6 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me. 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

     These religious leaders were violating the fifth commandment and were, according to James, guilty of breaking all Gods commandments: James 2:10-11 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

This was why Jesus said: Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying. 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

     False gods can be placed ahead of God in any number of ways. The obvious way is of course, worshipping idols and images. A majority of the Earth's population carry on this practice today. Christianity is only one of the world's major religions. Vast numbers of human beings still practice heathen religions today. These religions are heavily involved in idolatry. But idol worship is only one way. There are others.

     To place anything before the true God, either an object or a concept, makes one an idolater. To follow the religious customs and traditions of men can easily make one an idolater. Many of these ideas and concepts are doctrines of demons and should be avoided:
- Deuteronomy 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
- Leviticus 17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
- Psalm 106:37 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils.
- 1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
- 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

     One definite way to break the first commandment is to worship God when it is convenient, not when He tells us to worship Him. When this is done, one has placed himself and his desires above God. The result is that the one who does this has made a god out of himself. He has placed his desires above the Law of God. Christianity is a way of life, it is not a weekly convenience.

One must do more than profess Christ: Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.

     It is deceptive to believe that belief in God is sufficient to put one in favor with God. Believing alone is insufficient, we must act upon what we hear: James 2:19-20 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

     One whose religion is one of convenience, who puts his own desires above the commands of God is deceiving himself. He is not truly worshiping God, he is worshiping himself. One cannot wait until he has the time to obey God before practicing Christianity. He must practice it when he becomes aware of what God requires. He cannot help but have an idol before the true God if he worships God when it is convenient. Those things in one's life that are more important than God are idols. They must be set aside. This includes all human desires and passions which violate the first commandment.

We must not be like the people Ezekiel the prophet wrote about when he said: Ezekiel 33:31-32 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

     These people were guilty of fulfilling their own desires rather than God's instruction, they were idolaters. Self-interest is the corollary to the problem related in the previous paragraph. Self-interest is another idol. Most of us direct our lives and all our activities by things that interest us. This includes likes, wants, desires, etc. What we are determined to acquire, but what if these things hinder the proper worship of God? Are they not idols? God should be the most important thing in our lives. But few people put God first in anything.

Remember, we are told covetousness is idolatry: Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Paul warns in: Philippians 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

     These people care little for the things of God. In fact, they generally could care less. They have placed their self-interests above the true God and thus are idolaters. We are admonished in:
Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

     As in the days of Christ, what do the majority practice today in their worship toward God? The traditions of men! Many, like in the days of old, worship publicly to be seen of men:
Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.

Notice Jesus' warning: Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Much like it was in the days of Christ, public prayer today is largely for show. Jesus said:
Matthew 6:7-8 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

     Are men really worshipping the true God when the aim is to receive the compliments and acclaim of men? Most who profess Christianity today would recoil if the truth of God were made known to them. Their reaction would be similar to those who heard Christ and knew He was telling the truth: John 12:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

     Those who are ensconced in the false religious systems of this world have a god before the true God. They are idolaters!

There is another consideration. Some have made idols of men. The one who always looks to men for the answers and solutions to his problems is placing a false god before the true God. Men are limited in their abilities to understand and to solve problems. We only need to look at world conditions today to corroborate this. One who believes all his problems, as well as the world's problems, can be solved by men will eventually become disillusioned. There are a myriad of insoluble problems existing today.

What does God warn?
- Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
- Isaiah 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?
- Psalm 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

     Yet in times of trouble, where do most men place their trust? In a human authority of some kind. They trust " experts " to come to the proper solutions.

The Bible states in: Proverbs 1:22-31 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

     True and accurate reproof is to be found in the pages of the Bible. It directs us in the right path, to help us to see where we need to correct our actions: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

     This instruction is in total contrast to the philosophy of this world and all the available self-help books. These substitute gods are of little lasting value. But not the Bible: Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Those who exclude God will find out the meaning of His words: Deuteronomy 32:37-38 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, 38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

     The false gods of philosophy and human reason will eventually be found wanting. Couple the above paragraph with another idol, humanism. Humanism makes man the final judge in all things. By this means, man has made himself into a god.

Protegra's said: " Man is the measure of all things. " What he meant is that each man is a law unto himself. This concept is expressed in situational ethics, that is, what I do may be right for me but not for you. Thus, the final decision in all matters that pertain to this physical life is left in the hands of each individual. There is no such thing as permanent truth. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that whatever I do is permissible as long as it does not harm others. God is completely excluded from the picture.

But the Bible says: Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

     The majority today simply fail to consider God in anything they do. Their actions are not necessarily deliberate against God. They simply do not know. They have been led to believe that humanism is a valid concept for living. Especially in the last 50 to 60 years.
- Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
- Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

     The majority today believe that whatever they think is right. But how does God evaluate these human thoughts?
- Psalm 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
- Isaiah 55:8–9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Humanism is an idol.

     Until men truly learn to place God first in their lives, to take Him into consideration in all that they do, they will never learn the solutions to their problems. The end result of humanism is death.

We have briefly commented on the quest for materialism. This too is an idol. God thunders:
Exodus 12:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

     The quest for materialism has become an obsession for many. Their entire lives are spent in the accumulation of money, possessions and the comforts of life. This is their god, the one they have placed before the true God.

Jesus said in: Matthew 16:24-26 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

     There is a fact that is certain. We cannot take our possessions with us when we die. No not one penny do we get to take with us when we leave this life. Material possessions are good if they are placed in the proper perspective.

Jesus said: Matthew 6:24-33 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

     The quest for material possessions has no real lasting value. Material possessions are idols. What are Christians admonished to do? Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

The Apostle Paul wrote: 1 Timothy 6:7-10 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

     The insatiable quest for money can be a curse. It is an idol that pays few dividends in the final analysis. Those who truly benefit in this life and in the world come to  obey the first commandent: