When asked to define idols, how would you?
“Idols? Oh no. I do not worship any idols and I will never adore anyone except God” This is one of the common response one gets to hear from most of the Christian. I wonder do people really understand what things do“idols” relate with. The dictionary defines an idol as “A statue that is worshiped as God.” But it is not only worshiping something physically rather it is anything we lay before God in our heart. Just because we do not bow down to worship a golden statue does not mean we do not have idols in our life. It could be anything, might be a business, an individual, an action, an idea, a hobby, a thing, or even ourselves. We can know if the idol had taken rule over our lives if we are inclined to violate God’s commands in order to acquire that thing.
Now most of us might think how, pursuing a career or thinking about business, or hobbies can be identified as idolatry?
Basically, idols are the things influencing us in ways that are not normal in retrospect to our daily lifestyle. It is anything we have consciously and/or subconsciously replaced God with. They are not necessarily awful things, but reasonable aspects that take terrible stances on our preference.
Our work or career or business or hobbies or anything can be considered as an idol when it drives our decision-making to the point where we fully ignore God’s ways and desires.
Let’s take an example:
For some of us, our feelings are an idol. If we feel beautiful, we believe we are beautiful. If we feel good, we believe we are good.
But the thing is not to allow the foolish idols and image-makers of what world calls beauty to speak upon your life when God has already spoken blessings over your life.
Work is important of course, and so is spending time with friends and family. What we need is some balance. We are all searching for happiness. Of course, we are, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just that too often we are deeply searching in all the wrong places. “When we attempt to pursue prosperity, happiness, joy outside of God’s will, we will find no satisfaction, but when we choose to surrender to God and His ways then only we will be prosperous and successful” ( Joshua 1:8). Problems will arise when we place our desire to be liked above our relationship with God. When we care for people’s acceptance more than God’s, it shows where our true commitments lie.
I’ve learned that God is more willing to give us the desires of our hearts, but he will delay them when they are idols in our hearts.
Sarah Karki
Another Masterpiece!
Thank you.