Who do you serve?

The Word is the truth. The truth, the inspired Word of God. The Bible is the Word. The Bible gives the best advice on the planet. It's full of life-bringing encouragement, as well as honest, love-motivated warnings. Such as:

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

--  1 John 5:21, NASB  --

 



 

Another translation (Living Bible) simply states it as:

^"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. "

 

IDOL in the Greek: heathen god, false god.

IDOL from dictionary.com:

any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or

devotion...or an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.

 

Look around at this world. Name some "idols". Money? Homes? Sports, sports figures? Bands? Look at the walls in your home. What is your kids' room postered with? What is your money going to? Your time? Who is your allegiance going to?

 

Got addictions? To your phone, your computer, FB, Pinterest, porn, alcohol, drugs, steroids, shopping, eating?????

 

What or who do you serve? Do you please your spouse above God? Does your child rule over you? What about your job? Do you sacrifice your well-being and time with your family to be #1 at your job?

 

How is your health? Stress levels? Is there any indications that your life is imbalanced? Going to work with hangovers? Lying to your spouse on where you are, where the money is going?

 

How's your kids' life? Do they have time to play and be a kid, or are they practicing 'til dusk that sport you think will pay for college? Is your kid stressed out?

 

Folks, stress, dying relationships, confusion, chaos, health problems, sleep deprivation...the list goes on and on that indicate their are idols in our lives.

 

Don't think money is an idol? Look at your car? Overpriced? Look at your home, could it house 2 or 3 families? I've heard people justify chasing the dollar to 'give'. The woman in the synagogue gave her last coins and Jesus remarked that she gave more...she gave out of her necessity. Is your car more than a small home on the bad side of town? Yea, it's overpriced. Give more! Spend less, give more. Give out of necessity, give until it hurts....IF you honestly believe that you are chasing money to give more. Here's a challenge: Never drive something that costs over $500/mo. and the difference between your current monthly payment and the $500 - GIVE IT AWAY!!!! Do the same with that house payment! Or whatever high priced idol your money and time is serving!

 

Don't think food is an idol? I live in Kern County. #1 for highest rate of obesity in California. 65% of Americans are obese. Hello, FOOD IS AN IDOL. People turn to it for comfort...instead of the Lord! They spend gobs of money on a ridiculous SMALL amount of food at a fancy restaurant. I've had the food...it's salty and I'm still hungry when I leave. I'd rather have a ham sandwich or salad from my kitchen!

 

What else? Sports. Either watching or participation to the point that you have no relationship with people or your spouse, your family. Drugs and alcohol - the overconsumption that is wrecking your marriage, your kids' lives, your health, your work performance. One word: IDOLATRY.

 

My perspective has always been that these kinds of idols are what people are turning to and trying to fill the God-sized void in their lives and hearts with. What if you spent 1/10 of the time you spend doing your favorite, idolatrous activity with God? What if you spent 1/4 of that time??? Think life could be different?

 

James 1:27 says: Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

The world is filled with idolatry! There's even a show 'American Idol' on television. Kids who know more about a sports figure than Jesus Christ! Commercials blasting idolatry from the idol-box itself, the television.

 

Am I being harsh? I just want to see this world turned upside down for Jesus. And it starts when we stop worshipping ourselves, our possessions, our achievements and start WORSHIPPING THE TRUE GOD!!!

 

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him

must worship in spirit and truth.”

--  John 4:24  --

 

 

"....worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh..."

--  Philippians 3:3  --

 

Heck, the first commandment from Exodus is: DO NOT WORSHIP ANY OTHER gods!

 

It's in the Old and New Testament. So what should we do?

 

Guard ourselves and lay down our false gods and idols. It's time to worship the only one true God!!