Cheating on God - Martin Wiles

You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. James 4:4 MSG

Adultery. Betrayal. 

By one spouse on the other. Perhaps more than once. Perhaps a habit. Maybe not because of love. More than likely because of lust. A fall into temptation. A slip from which there is a return road, but one not often taken. Then death. Death of a relationship. Death of trust. Death of love. “I’m sorry” sometimes doesn’t work. The confession doesn’t restore trust. Confusion reigns. Decisions present themselves. Life forever changes. What has happened can’t be undone.

According to experts at Divorce Magazine, 45-50 percent of married women and 50-60 percent of married men cheat on their spouses. The American Psychological Association says unfaithfulness in the United States accounts for 20-40 percent of divorces. They also report that forty-two percent of divorced individuals confess to more than one affair.

But infidelity doesn’t have to lead to divorce. Experts at Divorce Magazine report that about 70 percent of couples who have experienced infidelity actually stay married after the affair comes out into the open. Still, adultery is the most cited reason for divorce.

In the Old Testament, God compared His relationship with His people as a marriage—and He often accused them of cheating on Him. Which they did by worshipping other gods and by turning their focus to other things rather than Him. Although He didn’t divorce them for their unfaithfulness, the consequences for their unfaithfulness were often severe.

God wants, and deserves, my worship. And not just on Sundays or whatever day I choose to gather with other believers. Worship is an all-day, everyday experience wherein I live with a God-consciousness and try my best to honor Him through my attitudes, actions, and words. I do good to others with the intention that God receives the glory for my good works and that people are pointed to Him when they observe my deeds.

When other things or people steal this worship—or when we give it to something or someone else voluntarily—we cheat on God. And unfaithfulness doesn’t make Him happy. He is jealous for our attention because He knows the awful things that can happen when we make other things or relationships that squeeze Him out a priority.

Take time each day to refocus your worship on God. He deserves your faithfulness. Then, let everything else you enjoy about life come beneath your marriage to Him.

Prayer: Father, may our attention be turned only toward You.

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