‘Having our cake and eating it, too’ is a mindset that all of us fall into from time to time, albeit in differing degrees. 

Recently a U.S. Senator discovered that the political party he had been a member of for over 40 years had finally started showing signs that support for him was over.  The polls were showing that his challenger in the upcoming primary was going to unseat him and this Senator decided that loyalty to his constituents and his party was secondary to his power.  Rather than retire with dignity, this Senator decided to change sides and join the opposition party.  Since he was doing the opposition party a huge service by furthering their majority, in his twisted mind, he was going to be entitled to a host of luxuries and seniority since he has been in the Senate for so long.  He thought he was going to be a hero.  Once he made the switch, burnt the bridge, and the opposition got what it needed from him, they threw him away like an old piece of cheese in the back of the refrigerator.  This Senator thought he was going to have his cake and eat it, too.

There’s a pretty easy parallel to make with the scriptures and the episode above with the Senator:

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" Matthew 4:8-10

Satan was trying to get Jesus to switch parties.  And what do you think would have happened to Jesus had he made the switch?  Do you think Satan, having gotten what he wanted, would have really given Jesus all those kingdoms?

So how does God like the idea of His followers trying to having their cake and eating it, too?  Turns out, not one bit.

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21

This is a huge verse.  Despite God telling Israel over and over not to mix in worship of false gods with worship of Him, they decided to do it anyhow.  The allure was just too much.  The had to have their cake and eat it, too.

“But, Chris, how does this apply to Christians?  We’re under the New Covenant, we’re not bound by those old rules, right”, asks the reader.  While there was a change in the law due to a change in the priesthood, this rule remains - without a doubt. 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Baal and Belial are the same false god.  The principle is the same, which is why Paul is citing it.  We are NOT allowed to adopt pagan practices into the worship of the One True God.  The first century Christians did not adopt the practices of their converts, but quite the opposite happened.  Converts ceased their pagan ways and became worshippers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  As Paul is alluding to above, Belial and the worship of him or any other false god has absolutely no place in Christianity.  We are not permitted to have our cake and eat it, too.