How we treat others indicates who we worship Ps 115

As pastors and leaders it would seem like an easy answer. Of course I or we worship the Lord Jesus Christ. But sometimes what we care most about and the way we act can identify our hearts loyalty.

My Text this morning is from Ps 115. Here the psalmist is comparing the true God, Yahweh, to the idols of the world. The Psalmist here identifies attributes of these false gods and their followers and creates an interesting picture for us to consider.

Psalm 115:1–8 (NASB95)

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

But to Your name give glory

Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.

2 Why should the nations say,

“Where, now, is their God?”

3 But our God is in the heavens;

He does whatever He pleases.

Here the Psalmist identifies several attributes that separate Yahweh from all others.

First- God is known by His lovingkindness. The Hebrew. word here is Hesed. It translated as mercy, kindness, loyal love. It defines our God as a covenant keeper, a promise keeper, loyal to those who love Him.

The second is truth. The bible tells us that it is impossible for God to lie. Jesus describes Himself as the way Way the Truth and the Life.

Thirdly - we are told God is in the Heavens the Hebrew word for heavens is shamayim.

Fourthly - He does whatever He pleases. He is omnipotent, all powerful.

The psalmist now contrasts the idols of man.

4 Their idols are silver and gold,

The work of man’s hands.

Have you noticed how enamored we are with the things man has made. Some cool stuff no doubt but they lack life.

5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak;

They have eyes, but they cannot see;

6 They have ears, but they cannot hear;

They have noses, but they cannot smell;

7 They have hands, but they cannot feel;

They have feet, but they cannot walk;

They cannot make a sound with their throat.

We call this insensate. the have no senses.

8 Those who make them will become like them,

Everyone who trusts in them.

The warning for all is that when we begin to remove our trust in the Living God and put our trust in things, like our money, or the Earth, or Power, or Government, we become less like the God of the bible and more like the idols we have set up.

For instance - if we worship money, we then can become cold and uncaring of anyone that can’t bring us a return. People can become numbers.

If we worship power then people become pawns to use.

If we worship the Earth the needs of people become less important than the environment.

Let us be sure that our Hope is fully in the God revealed in scripture and not in things.

How we treat people is the best indication of who or what we trust in.