Joshua's farewell address to us

In chapter 23 of Joshua, an aging Joshua assembles the Israelite leaders in order to issue his farewell address. In the address, Joshua cautions against following the gods of the surrounding nations. Here are portions of that address (KJV):

Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, ... That ye come not among these nations ... neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the LORD your God.

Two gods, in particular, worshipped by Israel's neighbors were Baal and Asherah. Despite having somewhat overlapping roles, Baal and Asherah were viewed among people of the ancient Levant as being the ultimate sources of prosperity and fertility. In modern times, we don't "swear by" or "serve" or "bow ourselves" to Baal and Asherah. But we are at risk of elevating what they stood for -- prosperity and fertility (sex) -- above God.

Therefore, Joshua's address is just as relevant to us as it was to the ancient Israelite leaders. We are to "cleave unto the LORD," and not unto the worldly elements represented by Baal and Asherah.