At the time these commandments were accepted as rules of life by the people of Israel, they were surrounded by other nations that were polytheistic and animistic. This would include Egypt, where there were many Gods and the Pharoes were considered divine. This law and others served to give the people of Israel guidance on how to live their lives, define their relationship with God and make them distinct from the other nations that surrounded them. That particular law could be interpreted in a modern context as worshiping money, material goods and status, and putting them before your needs or the needs of others and making them the focus of your decisions.
Vlad/Igor
