You shall not make for yourself a carved image.

Exod 20:4 is the second commandment which speaks about idol worshipping which God forbids His people from doing. This commandment is related to the first one, in that the first commandment told us who to worship, whereas the second commandment tells us how to worship God. This commandment tells us that God is a jealous God who never shares His glory with anybody. He desires our attention and focus in order to worship Him correctly as prescribed in the scriptures. When we presume to know how to worship God, it is the sin of human presumption. We cannot fashion God in our own image nor can we worship Him any how. We must worship God rightly and not with pride. This commandment addresses the heart of worship so as not to do it higgledy piggledy. Our hearts must be attuned to His method and principle. Worshipping God with a correct attitude is not about nominal religion or “Easter Sunday attendees” but rather, the right attitude of worship emerged out of an exciting personal relationship. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we must ensure that we turn away from the false gods in our lives and we establish a genuine relationship with the God of the universe. Several idols can distract us from pure worship. When we are motivated by greed, we are practicing idolatry. Surely, we practice idolatry when we attribute Godlike characteristics to things and people other than God, such as work or business venture or political party. We are also idolatrous when we live by sight instead of faith and likewise when we follow the dictates of culture over that of God. In response, Christians must guard their hearts and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Christians must pray without ceasing and live according to God’s word and not emotions and to also share their faith actively with others.