The Idols In My Own Life
As I sit and write this article, I reflect on the past two days of my quiet time reading…Jeremiah Chapters 9 & 10. It’s a complex book in my opinion, but God really laid on my heart idols and false gods and I can’t help but ask myself what are the idols and false gods that are in my life today?
I believe we all have them, whether we know it or not, there are things that deflect our attention off of the Father…I know it’s true because it’s true in my own life. There are days where I forget to have a quiet time, I forget to pray, I forget to spend time with the Creator of the universe, but what are the things that steal my attention? Could those be called idols or false gods?
I did some quick research and found a definition of an idol from Tim Keller’s book Counterfeit Gods. Tim explains that an idol is “anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.” I’m floored…anything that “absorbs your heart and imagination more than God…” The list in my life, some days, is too long to write. For a man who understands that the Bible teaches me to be in constant prayer, I fail daily, minute by minute, and the things that steal my attention are plentiful.
There was an article on www.biblestudytools.com that listed 10 things that they believe can be idols, I would be hard pressed to say they mirror my own life. Here’s their list.
Self
Security
Approval
Relationships
Success
Wealth
Health
Food
Intellect
Comfort
Self…is there any humor in the fact that we have a word in our vocabulary today called “The Selfie”? It’s funny and sad all at the same time. We’ve become obsessed with what We look like, what We are posting, what We are wearing…I’m guilty of it too. I struggle with how much to post about myself, how many videos to be in, how much to be “our front” as they call it for Called Higher Studios. Ultimately I know this, I want to be better at having less idols and false gods that absorb my heart and imagination more than God, whether that be social media or whatever. The opposite of self seems to be selfless…and isn’t that what we are, and what we’re supposed to be, since we’ve been purchased by the blood of Jesus? I for one do not believe that I own my own life, there should be no “self” inside of me, it’s should be Jesus looking out and shining through me. Would love to know your thoughts on this. Leave a message or a post on our socials.
Jason Brown
CEO of Called Higher Studios