Key scripture – “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:4-5)

Some people think that idol worship is an archaic problem with little relevance today. But idolatry is still a big problem, even in America. We have idols today that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Think about those svelte bodies that parade themselves in front of you on television or at the theater. Or the dream house beckoning from the magazine on your coffee table. Or the exotic vacation or the corner office or the fat paycheck or the perfect retirement home. Whatever it is—even good things, even blessings—can seduce us so that we end up spending ourselves on them rather than on God.

The poet William Cowper penned a verse in the eighteenth century that would make a fitting prayer for us today:

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

To gauge your own susceptibility to idols, take this week—all seven days of it—and scrutinize how you spend three precious resources: your time, your talents, and your treasure (money). If you are brave, you might even try drawing a pie chart to gauge what portion of each day’s waking hours you spend time with God and in His Word, and you spend thinking about God and the things He cares about.

If you find that you’re spending precious little time, talent and treasure on God and that you’ve formed any idolatrous attachments, take time to seek Him, ask for His forgiveness and for Him to free you.

Jesus told us, “Do not store up for yourselves material treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21 AMP).

When you turn from your idol, and you rededicate your life to God and you start mixing His Word with your faith, remember that you will be calling down His blessing, not just on yourself and your children, but your children’s children.

“But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who reverently fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children.” (Psalm 103:17).

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I praise You because only You can satisfy me. Thank You that You have not left me in the dark but You have revealed yourself to me and You continue to do so. I confess my attachment to these things_____ or these people _______, that get in the way of my relationship with You. Father, You have already given me the victory over this sin. Give me the strength to live in that victory so that I can worship You, and You alone, in spirit and in truth. I will no longer present my bodily members as slaves to impurity and to moral lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, instead I offer my members, my abilities, and talents as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification that is, being set apart for God’s purpose. (Romans 6:19). Father, all my time, talent, and treasures are Yours. I am Your steward so show me how You want me to use them for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.