Hi, Roy —

I believe these passages refer to priorities. If we don't have our hearts in the right place, our lives will remain imbalanced.

One reason the First Commandment is first is because loving God, as number One in one's life,
is necessary for happiness (as well as salvation). We must value Him first — over our:

• possessions
• friends
• family members, and
• even ourselves

in order to respond properly to His call to salvation. He will give the grace to make this possible if we submit to Him. When we place earthly goods or loved ones over Him we miss the mark; hence if pleasing God is not first priority, in our hearts and lives, we make these other things or persons out to be gods as His replacement. That, in essence, is idolatry; a violation of the First Commandment.

Paul