What Do You Idolize?
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”- Deuteronomy 5:7-10
It is hard not to make objects and people idols. We can easily do it without recognizing it. I used to idolize my family, especially my husband, my parents, and my sisters until the Holy Spirit convicted me that I was doing it. The Bible commands us to love and care about family and friends, but if when we start to love and care about them more than God.
We can make people who are closest to us idols because we feel obligated to listen to them no matter what out of love. When we start doing everything they say and stop listening to God then we are making them an idol. Not in every situation should we listen to people. We can still honor our loved ones, but we are not required to listen to them if what they say causes us to disobey God or sin.
Some people can hinder our relationship with God. This is common for a Christian living in a non-believing family or who have friends who are not Christian. They do not understand the importance of our loyalty to God and expect us to put them first. We cannot because that is idolatry. In Matthew 10:37-39 Jesus says, “those who love their father or mother more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers. Those who love their son or daughter more than they love me are not worthy to be my followers.”
God takes precedence over everything even if it causes us tension, strife, or alienation from people and things in our lives.
Prayer of the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
You are our main focus in life. Help us not to commit idolatry by making people or objects an idol. It is dangerous because it causes us to turn away from You and want evil things. Our evil desires can lead us to eternal punishment. You are a jealous God that wants all the glory. Give us the wisdom not to turn to objects or to people to worship but You who can only truly satisfy. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
