Idols are Among Us

The Friday morning bible study group has just started a new study, Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods."  I guess you can tell by the title this is all about idols.  You maybe thinking - I don't have any golden calves, or asherah poles set-up in the house and I don't bow down to anything - so I don't have an idol problem.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Test it...Am I doing this for God's glory, or for my own glory, pride, comfort, happiness, or other selfish motive?

Are you like me, are you saying UH-OH.  So if I'm doing it for myself does that mean I've made myself an idol?  Let's re-look at the definition of idol.  According to Ken Sande:  ."In biblical terms, an idol is something other than God that we set our heart on, that motivates us, that masters and rules us, or that we trust, fear, or serve.  An idol can also be referred to as a false god or a functional god." (The Peacemaker, Revised and Updated (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2006), pg. 104).

So now the real question is where is your heart?  Matthew 6:21 says "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  So where is your treasure? What drives you?

• Job, being successful, wealth
• Beauty, staying youthful, clothes, working out being fit
• Materialism - house, car, electronics
• What do others think about me?
• Sports
• Enterainment - movies, tv, "AMERICAN IDOL"
• Family, children

These things in themselves aren't bad - family & children are great things but we can turn them into idols if we  become consumed with them.  Are they dictating your peace and happiness; is all your time and energy only connect to your family?  Can you see that your treasure for God has been replaced by your family?

More food for thought - check these scriptures about what we treasure or idolize:

• All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Isaiah 44:9

• They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.” 2 Kings 17:15

This study really got to me in the first introduction to week one/day one.  Kelly Minter writes " For so much of my life I worshiped God: singing hymns, reading my Bible, confessing my belief in Him.  Yet, if you could have witnessed what controlled me, you would see that in many cases it was my idols.  Not carved images, but people, career paths, materialism, acceptance, and more.  God (on some level) was getting my worship, but my gods were getting my service."

Well I have only finished week one and have given you just a few high points.  If you are interested in doing this study - maybe you can't make it on Friday mornings - you can do it on your own.  Call me or drop me an email and I will make every effort to make myself available on Sunday nights during the children's choir to discuss it with you.  Who knows maybe we have enough interest to have a small group.

Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging - this week was identify our idols - I'll let you know how next week goes.

I'm going to be praying - Lord I want to treasure you - change my heart!!