²² Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? 1 Corinthians 10:22

In this verse, Paul reminds us of a key truth about our God that is repeated many times in the Scriptures.   He tells us that our God—He is a jealous God.  God is a jealous God.  He does not share loyalties.  He wants all of us, or nothing at all. 

And it is not  petty jealousy that God has for us.  God is all about that which is most holy, that which is most upright that which is the most worthy to be esteemed and worshipped—namely Himself.  And if you are thinking to yourself, “That sounds self-centered,”  Your right; God is!  Our God is a self-centered God. 

There is no other being in all of creation that compares to Him, therefore, to be centered upon anyone or anything else is to fall infinitely short of the mark.  There is no other being in all of existence that is worthy of worship other than Him.  Therefore, he refuses to let His people to settle for anything less.