According to the dictionary, idolatry is the worship of a physical object as god; immoderate attachment or devotion to something other than God. The words in italics are mine. As we look at these words, I would like us to pause and think deeply. Then ask ourselves this question – am I in idolatry? Recall that the bible says if you judge yourself, then you shall not be judged.
Very often when people talk about idolatry, our minds go to traditional worship of strange gods. These are gods that people worship in specific ways. Indeed the worship of these gods is a form of religion and the worshippers have beliefs and/or doctrines that guide them in their worship. They even have altars on which they offer sacrifices to these gods. This is very obvious idolatry but idolatry is much more than that. Whenever our attachment or devotion to a thing becomes immoderate, we tend towards idolatry.
Psalm 115: 3 – 8 “Our God is in the heavens and he does as he wishes. Their gods are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.
It is sad to observe that there is an inclination in man to worship everything but the one that ought to be worshipped - GOD. Sadly, we even now idolize self. Our attachment and devotion to pleasing ourselves even at the expense of submitting to God, has become unprecedented. Meanwhile, God says no man can serve two masters at the same time; you will either serve one or the other. So that it is impossible to serve God and any other jointly or even be immoderately attached or devoted to any other thing.
Mathew 4: 10NLT “Jesus told him. For the scriptures say, you must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”
What is even sadder is when those who have been saved from a life of enslavement to the devil and brought into the liberty we have in Christ; allow themselves to be lured again into slavery through the worship of any object or immoderate attachment or devotion to anything. The flesh of man is powerful enough to keep going on and must be brought under control of the Spirit of God so we don’t end up in the wrong place.
Galatians 5: 19 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
It is time to ponder and contemplate very deeply so that we can make the required changes in our lives.
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