I am relatively certain that we have all heard of the show titled similarly to today’s blog. It is both sad and ironic that, although scripture warns us about having idols, we actually have shows that promote idolatry. As if we didn’t struggle enough with idols in our lives. These shows cause our children to want to be idols. And the rest of us watch these shows (religiously) as if the participants were idols. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21.
Now, I am positive that there are some of us who watch that show and are thinking, “now that show is harmless” or “there are shows that are a lot worse than that one”. I am neither promoting nor condemning the show, itself. I am saying that we take idol worship way too lightly.
Before you think, “I don’t think I have any idols”, let’s look at what the idols in our lives might look like. Honestly, there are idols in all of our lives. It is typically something that the enemy uses to keep us in bondage. Or, he uses it to influence us to put this idol in the place that only God should hold in our lives.
The enemy often uses addictions as an idol to keep us in bondage. Those sinful things can rule our lives and become a god to us; things like lust, drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc. These are just a few things that we would all typically think of. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5.
But what about the things that we don’t just desire or hunger after? What about the things that our lives depend on like food? When we desire things that God tells us to do in moderation and resort to gluttony, it is sin. Therefore, it’s an idol! “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” Philippians 3:19.
The enemy loves it when we chase after the things of this world. Those things may be success, money, or prestige. They not only become idols that we chase after and sacrifice our walk with God for, but they can actually become gods in our lives. We can begin to turn to them for our peace and security. And, we can even begin to believe that, as long as we have them, we don’t need anything else. This includes God. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,” Matthew 6:19.
Our desire for them happens so gradually. At times, it happens and we may not even realize that they are idols until our relationships with our families (and God) have already suffered.
Speaking of families… if we are not careful, they too can become idols in our lives. The precious love of our spouse or those beautiful little faces of our children (or, in my case, grandchildren) 🙂 are easy to long for. Which is not a bad thing. It becomes a bad thing when we begin to disregard God and look to our families as the most important things in our lives. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37.
And, although you may be tempted to try and defend that position, let’s remember who gave that family to us. And He gave them so that we would show them how to put God first! “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 11:18-19.
We can even make idols of other Godly things; things like the gifts and spiritual lives of others. If we see that someone has the gift of mercy, we might wish that we were less gifted at hospitality and more tender-hearted. Or we see that someone else has something at their church that we don’t have, but want. This then results in us becoming distant from our fellowship or even leaving the body that God has called us to.
One of the most subtle and dangerous idols in our lives though is closer than even our families. We are our own idols.
Because I lack self-confidence, I would have bristled if someone told me that I was an idol in my own life. But consider how often we disregard God and trust our own thinking, urges, leadings, and strength. Every time we do that, we make an idol of ourselves. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5.
When we think that all we have and achieve is due to our hard work/abilities, we are our own idol. “Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.” Isaiah 2:8.
But every good and perfect gift is from our Heavenly Father. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV).
The enemy is a deceiver. He loves it when he can tempt us with things that will cause us to be distant from God. Do not be deceived.
We saw that Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”
If we will trust, seek, and acknowledge God in all areas of our lives first, He will direct our paths. In fact, He will direct them all the way to a mansion in glory! He will help us to be rid of these idols. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.” Ezekial 36:25.
Let us test ourselves. Let’s seek out those idols in our lives. And let’s give them over to the only one worthy to be the God of our lives. “and Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!” Lamentations 3:40.
Father God, forgive us for the nonsense that we put before You. Forgive us for putting anything above You, Father. You are so good to us. You are so loving. Father, You are the only one worthy. Holy Spirit, reveal the idols in our lives to us. Convict us of those things that we have put before You and made gods of in our lives. TEAR THEM DOWN, Father! We tear down those altars, Father. Take Your rightful place on the throne of our lives, Lord. We love You, we praise You, and we thank You that You are a God of mercy and grace. We pray this in Your precious and Holy name, Jesus. Amen.
If you have been struggling with idols and don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior, please visit our Life Preserver page. It can be found at https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/. Once there, please pray the prayer that is outlined there. We all struggle with idols but God wants to help us conquer them. He loves you and wants a personal and intimate relationship with you. Please pray that prayer, and once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
