Worshipping the Creator Alone

True peace and purpose come when we worship our Creator alone—fixing our hearts on what is eternal, not temporary.

“God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts … For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”—Romans 1:24–25 NASB

Born in Paris, France, in 1848, Eugène-Henri-Paul Gauguin spent a lifetime dedicated to art. Facing constant poverty and struggling to find his identity, a turning point came in 1887 when he traveled to Martinique, seeking to live among the natives. He thought he could find purpose by living amid people who had not been “corrupted” by modern society.

Eventually, this passion drove him to move to the Pacific island of Tahiti. Gauguin hoped to find a paradise, and there he developed an artistic style that gradually brought him fame and influence. But he found no paradise and never fully escaped poverty. Until his death in 1903, he faced perpetual unhappiness and disappointment.

The apostle Paul describes how many look for answers in other people—in effect, worshipping and serving “the creature.” Sadly, Gauguin thought the primitive people of Polynesia might provide his answer. In similar ways, many today fail to understand that the real answers come not from man, but God; not from worshipping people, but our Creator.

Make sure that you’re not trying to find satisfaction or purpose in the “things which are seen.” Recognize that “the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Lasting meaning comes only from God. Worship Him and Him alone! Dedicate your life to serving Him. Seek first His Kingdom. He will give you real peace, joy, and purpose.

Reflection Question: What might be competing with God for your worship today?