When we think of idols we often think of a graven image made of wood, gold, or silver, but the reality is that it goes much deep than that. So the question is, do you have an idol?
Here are a couple of dictionary definitions of idol: 1. An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. 2. A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
We may look at these definitions and think, “I don’t really have that problem”, but do we. I recently ran across a definition that hit me between the eyes. “When we expect from things what only God can give, such as security, joy, and freedom, we turn things into idols.” Wow! Now to me that is profound. How many times have we put our security in money or people, which is making them an idol? What about expecting the things that surround us to give us joy, idol. How do we respond if those around us don’t love us? Is that our idol? There is only one kind of true freedom and if we do not have freedom in Christ then we have another idol. You may think I am crazy.
I do want to make it clear here that I am talking about a person who is of accountable age. A child who is not to accountability yet should be able to have security, joy, freedom, and love from their parents. We are in the place of God to them but we should be leading them to change their reliance over to God as they grow in maturity. And I do want to make clear that this could be even a new believer. They are young in the faith and they to need to grow in maturity and we should help them grow beyond relying on others, to putting their total reliance on God for all these things. If we do not lead them beyond the point of relying on us we may have made their reliance on us an idol. It can feel good and maybe even look good to others and give us glory as we look so giving and helpful to others. But we could be keeping them from maturing.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 True peace, joy, freedom, and security come from having that full trust in God. Having the trust that nothing comes into our lives that are not for our good. And we can still have peace and joy through it all as we rely on Him. We tend to start relying on ourselves and things instead of God. So reality is we can become our own idol. We think WE are going to fix this, WE are going to solve that, and WE are going to make everything happen the way WE think it should go.
God is the only one that can bring us true security, joy, freedom, and love and if we are trying to get it anywhere else or from anyone else we will be insecure, in bondage, not have a real joy or feel truly loved.
Dear Father,
We so often only think of idols as tangible but there are so many idols we can have that we have a hard time seeing. Lord, help us to see what things that we are holding up in the place of You. It can be good things but they are in the wrong position in our lives. Show us and give us strength to make a change because we are weak. Thank You for always being there for us and for having such patience with us.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Go to God He will show you if there is anything that you have put above Him. He will give you the strength to put everything in the right position in your life.
Love you all.
Have you ever realized that you had an idol? What brought you to the realization and how did God help you change it?