Many of us are familiar with the Ten Commandments and may have been taught them in Sunday School. They seem simple enough for a child to understand—but wait! Often when I consider something “simple” or “over-familiar,” I miss a deeper meaning.
I had thought that way for a long time about the Second Commandment, which tells us not to create idols. It reads: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4).
Whenever I would read that Commandment, I’d think to myself: “Well, I’m pretty much OK on all that. I certainly don’t carve statues or worship them at an altar.” Then I’d remember some relationships where I have almost idolized the other person—I need to be careful about that! Sometimes I’d congratulate myself on not being overly attached to material possessions (Oops—except maybe just a couple!).
