Idols

March 6

Leviticus 26

Psalm 31:1-8

Proverbs 7:6-8

Mark 9:1-29

Idols

“Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God. Observe My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 26:1-2 NIV

Not many of us have golden idols or bronze images in our homes that we bow down to. We don’t have pillars or figured stones in our churches that we worship. As a matter of fact, we pride ourselves in not bowing to anyone or anything. But we are fooling ourselves if we believe we don’t have idols in our lives that we worship. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV) Where is your treasure? What do you value the most? What takes up most of your time and energy? Is anything more important to you than your relationship with Jesus? Even good things can become idols when we allow them to consume us. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters---yes, even their own life---He cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26 (NIV) Jesus is not telling us to hate anyone. He is telling us that nothing and no one can be more important to us than Jesus.

Being a good wife and mother is important and pleases God, but when those relationships take precedence in our life and distract us from spending time with Jesus, it does not please Him. We are commanded to honor our father and mother, but not if it keeps us from honoring our commitment to God. We are told to be a good employee and to work at everything as we are working for the Lord, but our jobs should not keep us from worshipping and serving God. Houses, cars, clothes, beauty, fitness and exercise, fame, prestige, power, and any number of other things can become idols in our life if we get our priorities out of order. Ask the Lord to reveal to you any idols you have allowed to creep into your life and to help you put them back into their proper place of importance.