Faith And Monogamy Go Hand In Hand

The LORD says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name. All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes. [Isaiah 65.1-2] 

It should be established that God does NOT in any way condone idols (First Commandment, Exodus 20.3). It should be understood that idolatry is "rebellious," our "own evil paths," and "crooked schemes" (Second Commandment, Exodus 20.4-6). When people call upon idols, they are NOT calling upon (honoring) the name of the LORD.(Third Commandment, Exodus 20.7) 

There is no "gray area" with God because said He would have nothing to do with idols and certainly will not work (share His glory) with them (Isaiah 42.8, Isaiah 48.11)!

Consider this:

Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! [Psalm 103.1-5]

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology all offer "good things." It takes little imagination to translate the "good things" offered by debt, insurance, medicine and technology to the same "good things" offered by God.

Humor my little story...

A husband is lying in bed ready for intimacy with his wife. In response to his wooing, she lovingly and respectfully leans in for a token "peck" of a kiss, says, "thanks," then rolls over and pulls the covers up to go to sleep. Puzzled by the his wife's words of gratitude, he asks, "thanks for what?" With sleepy but confident words she replies, "for the intimacy with (we'll say) John." Then, she makes a final shift in her position backing close to her husband so he can embrace her before falling fast asleep...

Nice story? NOT AT ALL! Why? Because the wife has committed adultery receiving intimacy from another man! It matters not to the husband that she thanks him for that intimacy with another man! Her token kiss and lovey-dovey actions are meaningless! Only a fool would think that husband would not burst into a fit of jealous rage. 

And so the LORD says in Isaiah 65.1, "I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name"

And what is God's attitude when His advances are ignored? "[I] ...will not tolerate your affection for any other gods." WHY? Because He is JEALOUS!

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]

It is no wonder Jesus came to earth with very specific and monogamistic instructions about our faith and trust:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6] 

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33] 

And, it is no wonder Jesus did not really mention the names of other gods. From a position of "jealousy," it is rare that even humans wish to speak the name of an adulterous spouse's lover. Instead they simply demand monogamy - and that is precisely what Jesus did: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. Faith and monogamy go hand in hand.

In the grand plan of God's Word, the fact that our relationship with God (Jesus) is likened to a groom and bride is no mistake. Even most godless people understand that an "open marriage" is perverted and wrong and comes to no good. And yet, God's people, in effect, polygamously claim an "open marriage" with God when they go anywhere else for "good things" that God jealously wishes to provide through His undeniable and unmistakable power. "Thanking God" with token words of praise for that adulterous provision from lesser gods does not make it okay.

...And so I only further alienate myself from the crowd. How much more will this be evident when I give full action to my words? The Apostle Paul articulated it best:

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. [Galatians 1.10]

Father, may I be found faithful (monogamous) to You and You alone through Jesus Christ. So be it.