"Little children, guard yourselves from idols."
1 John 5:21 NASB1995
Idolatry, recognize it or not, is as big a problem as ever. When you walk into a home and see a “trophy” case, it is often (not always, but often) representative of a life dedicated to something first other than Jehovah God. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.” (Psalm 115:4-7) The idle idol trophy often “speaks” of a person’s desire, passion, and zeal of what they loved, chased and worked for in their life. This is often at the expense and priority of a relationship with Jehovah God. We must guard against this idolatry.
But there is another idol with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Money. “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) The Holy Spirit equates greed to idolatry. And so it is, the lust which leads to the drive and pursuit of more money and what it can give us. It is sneaky and deceitful and preys on our worldly passions and can enslave us in debt (That’s why it’s called "Master” Card). We must guard against this idolatry.
Any addiction can fall under this same relationship of enslavement. I once knew a Christian brother who gave up smoking simply upon the profound realization he had become the cigarette's slave. It told him when to smoke. The nicotine cravings controlled him. And so he quit “cold turkey” and broke away from the shackles of that idolatrous relationship. Many such things can take the place of God. Food can become our “comforter and peace” instead of the Lord. Alcohol and drugs can become our fortress of escape rather than the Lord. TV and social media can become what we devote hours of our time to each day rather than the Lord and service in His kingdom. We are surrounded by idols but must guard against them, keep ourselves from them, and not become enslaved to them.
You have control of that. It begins with the commitment of Joshua - “...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). Every other decision in life stems forth from that one; whom we choose to serve. We do have control over that. We control whom we serve. ”Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (Romans 6:12-13)
May we guard ourselves from idols… in every form, and choose Jehovah God in all of His goodness, grace, truth, holiness, and righteousness; first and always.
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