KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21, ESV
Theme: Anything that captures our hearts more than Christ can become an idol.
MODERN IDOLS
When I hear the word “idol” in church, I think of a golden calf or a statue made of wood or stone that someone bows down to. But John’s warning in today’s verse reaches much further than that. Though it doesn’t necessarily mean the thing itself is a sin, an idol is anything that takes a place in our hearts that belongs to God alone. In fact, many of our idols can be good things that have become ultimate things. Modern idols are more difficult to recognize than golden calves and statues, aren’t they? They often blend right into daily life, easily disguised, while our happiness, security, identity or sense of worth becomes dependent on them.
FALSE BUT FAMILIAR IDOLS
Idols don’t always replace God, but they do compete with Him. I don’t wake up in the morning and make a conscious decision to stop worshiping God for the day. My idolatry happens gradually. I choose to open my work email or Instagram long before I open my Bible app. I will NOT miss my morning workout but am willing to cut my quiet time short if I need to get to work early. I may procrastinate writing my tithe check but like to log in to look at my bank balances regularly. I will cram a dozen activities in a day trying to be the best wife, mother, employee and friend, but find myself too tired to sign up for a serving team.
We can love our families and our careers. We can save money, exercise, travel, have meaningful friendships and serve at church. These are not sins. Arguably, all are good or even necessary. The problem comes in when something created by God becomes more important to us than the God who created it.
“HIDDEN” TREASURE
What we treasure ultimately reveals what we worship. John doesn’t merely say “recognize” idols. He says to keep ourselves from idols. We must become vulnerable and ask God to reveal what has taken too much space in our hearts. Where have we misplaced our security, significance, or identity? Then, surrender those things back to Him. This is especially difficult to acknowledge when those idols have become our kids, our livelihood, our “healthy” hobbies or our bank accounts. We must not allow anything created to take the place of the Creator. Hold everything God gives us with gratitude-but hold God himself the closest. When Christ becomes more precious to us, competing things begin to lose their grip.
Pray: Lord, show me anything I have begun to love, trust, fear or depend on more than You. Help me hold Your gifts with open hand. Let nothing you have given me become more important than You. Be my security, my identity, my satisfaction and my hope. Amen.
Read: Matthew 6:21; Psalm 139:23; Exodus 20:3-5; Colossians 3:5
Weekly Memory Verse: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23, ESV