Golden Gods

You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:3

God had seized the attention of Pharaoh and the Egyptians with a series of plagues. We must read again 12:29-36. Now they were dying to be rid of their Hebrew slaves. But God didn't want the Israelites to leave Egypt empty handed. After all. They had 400 years of wages due them. So they asked their former masters for articles of silver, gold and clothing, and they got them. Exodus 12:36 says that the Israelites "plunders the Egyptians"
   It wasn't long, however, until God's people fell into idolatry. They used their gold to make a golden  calf. Which they worshiped while Moses was on Mount  Sinai receiving the law (32:1-4).
  Thus tragic  experience highlights  the tension that Christians are required to maintain in relation to their possessions. There us much in our society that we may enjoy, but material things can also pose grave dangers when we use them unwisely. It say. ..that we are "free to utilize" but "forbidden to idolize." We are strangers and Pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrew 11: 13). And we must not become so enamored with "the treasure in Egypt" (verse 26). That we grow complacent and forget our true calling. 
  Are we using our material blessing to serve the Lord or have we become slaves to them?