You Can't Have It Both Ways - 1 Samuel 7:3

"If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the Lord; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." Samuel had gathered all of Israel together to repent of their idolatry and rededicate themselves to God. While Israel was assembled, the Philistines attacked them. Samuel prayed and God helped the Israelites defeat the Philistines because they had repented and rededicated themselves to serving and obeying God. Consequently, the Philistines didn't attack Israel again until after Saul became king. Samuel clarified to the Israelites that they could not have an allegiance to both God and idols. Idol worship of Asherah was an ongoing problem throughout Israel’s history and especially during the time of the judges. Ashtoreth (also called Asherah) was the Canaanite goddess of fertility associated with Baal. However, idolatry can take many forms. The prosperity we enjoy can lead to idolatry when we let the accumulation of possessions become the focus of life. What you spend your time and resources thinking about and doing indicates where your allegiance is. Your life in this world is a zero-sum game—whatever time or money you spend on one priority takes away from the time and money spent on another priority. So you can't have it both ways, God and something else. A relationship with God is an exclusive one and you can't expect to receive God’s blessing unless you get rid of what is contrary to His will.