Spiritual Allegiance

In Hebrew tradition, God is described as jealous (Exodus 20:5), which emphasizes that God does not want to share the affections of his people with other gods. In other words, God will not tolerate being only one of several gods his people worship and serve. The prophets used the analogy of marriage, that Israel is God’s wife and they should not have many lovers, but God alone.

One way Jesus repeats this theme is when he talks about those who are unable be his disciples due to divided loyalties. He makes the point that following him necessitates a singular focus and allegiance.

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33

One potential rival to God is our material possessions. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says we cannot serve both “God and mammon”, using a Hebrew word signifying the pursuit of wealth (Matthew 6:24-26). Jesus cautions that we cannot actually serve both, because ultimately we must chose one over the other.

You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot follow me unless you love me more than you love your own life. You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and follow me. Luke 14:26-27

As important as our relationships and family should be to us, the ultimate commitment must be to Jesus. This is not an either/or choice, because Jesus himself instructs us to love others well, including our family. Our relatives are certainly not neglected because of our loyalty to Jesus. They are, however, loved in a way that is subsumed under our primary devotion, which is to Jesus.

Likewise, when Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Rome, he said somewhat cryptically “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21). Though he was asked about taxes, Jesus responds with a larger principle about relating to earthly authorities in general. His reply urges us to ask ourselves “what is Caesar’s and what is God’s?”

Since Jesus’ audience knew the “jealousy of God” theme which runs right through the Jewish tradition, they knew God had to be first. Our love and devotion, worship and service is rightfully God’s above all. We are to have “no other gods before him” (Exodus 20:3).

For us, the “other gods” are not Zeus or Ba’al-like pagan deities, to whose temples we go to participate in rituals and offer sacrifices to appease them. The temples of other gods today are much more subtle, offering their empty promises if we will but bow the knee.

Satan’s temptation of Jesus, saying that he could have all the kingdoms of the world if he would bow down in worship to him, is pitched to us daily. “Worship anything other than God, make it your allegiance, and honor it as that to which you are committed above all else” . . . he whispers.

These gods are too many to fully list: power, wealth, pleasure, ambition, country, politics, fame, success, career, social standing, and technology are just a sample of how Satan entices us to worship anything of this world instead of God. To make any of these our first concern is, in essence, to worship the Prince of this world.

No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. 2 Timothy 2:4

With this analogy, Paul illustrates how the focus of a disciple must be undivided and singular in what is primary. Those who are citizens of heaven’s kingdom allow no allegiance to other gods to come before the One who enlisted us, “who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).