Its the foundation of capitalism. When there is fair competition the economy favors the consumer. When there is no competition the sellers can demand whatever they want from the consumer. The consumer can pay that amount or do without the product or services. Medicine is a good example. If there is competition for the drug, the price can be quite cheap. Some insurance companies provide generics without a copay. We’ve seen the opposite of that with some necessary drugs that are controlled by one company. Sky high prices. Pay or do without.  Since most of us are consumers we tend to favor capitalism and its accompanying competition.

What works in economics does not work well in religion. Especially in the Christian faith. The Christian worships one God and one God only. The God of the Christian does not allow generic gods. He made it plain from the very beginning of his association with Israel.  Over and over he tells them that he is a jealous God. Look at Exodus chapter 20.

Ex 20:1-6  Then God spoke all these words, saying,  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,  but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” NASU

Pretty plain isn’t it. No competition of gods is allowed. Joshua reminded Israel of this when they were ready to cross over the Jordan. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NASU

Choose one god. Choose the God of heaven and live, try to serve two gods, and die. Listen to Deut. 6:4-6 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” NASU

Can’t pick and choose. Can’t have some of this and some of that. Can’t be generic about God. All or nothing. We must put aside our other idols. Anything that keeps us from “all your hear and with all your soul and with all you might,” is an idol. Could be a person, could be a thing, could be a job, could be ourselves. God does not allow competition.