The concept of devotedness to God is a central theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of wholehearted commitment and loyalty to the Creator. The lack of such devotedness is consistently condemned in Scripture, as it reflects a heart that is divided or turned away from God. This entry explores the biblical perspective on the want of devotedness to God and the consequences thereof.

Old Testament Insights

In the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly called to exclusive devotion to Yahweh. The Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, commands, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This command underscores the expectation of complete and undivided devotion to God.

The prophets frequently condemned Israel for their lack of devotedness, often manifested in idolatry and disobedience. In Jeremiah 2:13, God laments through the prophet, "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water." This imagery highlights the futility and spiritual adultery of turning away from God.

The book of Hosea vividly portrays Israel's unfaithfulness as spiritual adultery, with God expressing His grief over their lack of devotion. Hosea 4:1-2 states, "Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land: 'There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land. Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.'"

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus reiterates the call for complete devotion to God. In Matthew 6:24, He teaches, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." This statement emphasizes the impossibility of divided loyalties and the necessity of choosing God above all else.

The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of devotedness in his epistles. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, he warns of the perilous times to come, marked by people who are "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power." This passage highlights the spiritual decay resulting from a lack of true devotion to God.

Consequences of Want of Devotedness

The Bible consistently warns of the dire consequences of lacking devotedness to God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites' failure to remain devoted led to exile and suffering. In the New Testament, Jesus warns of the ultimate consequence in Matthew 7:21-23, where He declares, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!'"

The call to devotedness is a call to a relationship with God that is genuine and transformative, marked by obedience, love, and faithfulness. The want of such devotedness is not only condemned but also leads to spiritual separation from God, as illustrated throughout Scripture.Revelation 3:16
So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jehovah Tsidkenu: the Lord Our Righteousness
... unrighteousness to man, or with a want of devotedness to God ... and boast exceedingly,
and glory in your God; and let ... I want this text to be fulfilled in your ears ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/jehovah tsidkenu the lord our.htm

The Crucifixion.
... suffering, in high position, with every want eagerly ministered ... power of earthly
love, of the devotedness of mother ... go: shall we then deny to God the happiness ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxi the crucifixion.htm

Desire to Please.
... in their very nature a desire or want of attachment ... You seem to say to God that it
was not ... assiduous attentions, and the most active devotedness, though truly ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xvi desire to please.htm

the Use of Humiliation
... and what is a damnable state, but a devotedness to carnal self ... they let it die in
their hands for want of close ... speak coldly for God, and for men's salvation? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/section 1 - the use.htm

The Fear which Terminates in the Second Death.
... thing, and a bitter, and without devotedness to the ... yields the greatest temporal
felicity; the want of them ... was a suitable companion given of God, to crown the ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xx the fear which.htm

Are You Prepared to Die?
... in God, and lived a higher life of devotedness and love ... He would want to know what
the soldier lived for, if ... and think, and think again, and oh, may God lead you ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 11 1865/are you prepared to die.htm

Appendix.
... they are also culpable;"because of the want of such a ... is a token for good; and the
devotedness of the ... and yet worthy of approbation, as if acting for God? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/appendix.htm

Paul in Malta and Rome.
... It is not from want of evidence that the gospel is ... life of faith upon the Son of
God, the constraining ... of diligence and; fidelity, of entire devotedness to the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxix paul in malta.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... They lament, among other things, the want of those strong horrors which ... is a
consciousness of an undissembled love to God, an unreserved devotedness to his ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm

Covenanting a Duty.
... exertion, especially to the missionary enterprise, an injurious want of solemn Covenant
devotedness? ... so well as in a solemn Covenant engagement with God? ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iii covenanting a duty.htm

What does it mean to be devout? | GotQuestions.org

Devotedness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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