MY BLOGS

A friend once told me about his cultural experiences in a foreign country where the people worship carved images of different gods. The carved image is the focus point in the living room and all furniture is organized to face the object of worship. It uncannily reminded of our Western culture’s living rooms facing the big screen TV.

Yes, sometimes that TV is our idol. I’m guilty to binge-watching an entire season of Band of Brothers and all sequels of Star War movies and the list goes on. Then there’s golf. I watch golf when I don’t want to think. Before long, my entire Saturday afternoon vanished as the marine layer before the sun in mid-July in California.

What about you? Are you enchanted as much as I am with the beautiful things in this world and the comforts of this life? Do you first thing in the morning check your phone for emails, messages and Social Media? Or do you put your marriage and/or marriage partner on a pedestal. Maybe the thought of something happening to your kids drives you crazy. What about your career? Do you forsake family time for building a career? It could be your sport. Golf, tennis or any other sport takes priority over anything else in your live.

If it was just the physical stuff that pulled us away, it would have been much easier to fight against these false gods. But unfortunately, worshipping idols is also a matter of the heart. The posture of our hearts matters to God.

Do we depend more on our stuff, our relationships, our careers, and our own understanding to get us through our everyday strains and stresses? Or do we lean into God for guidance and wisdom? Is there anything that takes God’s rightful place in our lives? Is there anyone that we love more than we love God? Ouch, these are hard questions.

In the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, Habakkuk and God are in dialogue about the evil in this world, God mentioned specific evils by name.(1) He warned about the sorrows awaiting the ones whose strength is their god, the proud that trust in themselves, and the ones who believe their wealth will buy security and safety.

I don’t know about you, but I’m guilty of this too. I remember my motto in my younger days “I can do this” as if all my strength was my own doing. Or the time I believed that I’m the provider for my family. Once I was promoted to a leadership position and I was certain it’s because of my competency and hard work.

Why is idol worshipping a problem?

Whatever we worship occupies our thoughts, keeps our minds busy, takes up our time and influences our spending patterns.

Harboring idols cause distraction from our purpose. Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (2)

Idolatry causes destruction in our lives. The Apostle Paul informed the church members in Colossae that idolatry (worshipping the things of this world) is the root of all sin. (3)

Whenever we’re trying to find our joy, hope and love in something other than our Lord, we are bound to be to be disappointed. We become stressed and experience anxiety. We lose our joy and feels depressed and miserable. And our pain levels increase.

God designed our hearts to worship only Him. According to the Ten Commandments God says, You shall have no other gods before me. 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, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (4)

How then do we recognize other gods in our lives and get rid of them?

Do a “temperature” check at the end of your in your journal by asking some hard questions.

   • Have you taken time to seek God, share your concerns, struggles and opportunities with him and rest in his presence?

   • Or were you mostly tied up in the daily stresses and struggles?

   • Have you accepted and submitted to Jesus’ Lordship today?

   • Were your family, friends or spouse’s opinion more important than obeying God?

   • Have you followed God wholeheartedly, with your mind, body, soul and all your strength?

   • Have you loved the people around you and offered the same grace Jesus offered to you?

   • Have you trusted God today for his provision? Or are you trusting more in your own bank account?

   • Have you chosen to satisfy your own selfish desires with immediate satisfaction and forgot about the far-reaching consequences of sin?

Tough questions! Maybe you dislike this as much as I do. But this is supposed to wake us up and make us aware of what really matters.

Friend, repent of your heart’s posture, because repentance shifts your focus back to God and redirects you to a God-centered lifestyle.

Remember that you always have a choice right now, not tomorrow or someday, but right now.

“So, fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.

Put away your idols your ancestors worshipped

Serve the Lord alone.

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.

But for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (5)

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death

Between blessings and curses.

You can make the choice:

   - By loving the Lord your God

   - Obeying him

   - And committing yourself firmly to him.

This is the key to your life” (6)

It’s hard to focus on eternal values when the daily stresses overwhelm us. But let’s remember every choice matters. Let go of idols and focus on a God-centered lifestyle.

Again, a reminder to reach out to a qualified professional to assist with your emotional healing. I would love to hear how you’re faring in this “new normal” of our current circumstances. May God bless you and keep you. Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Until Next Time

Anita Beukman

Your Hope Coach

Scripture References
   1. Habakkuk 2: 4 – 9
   2. Matthew 6:21
   3. Colossians 3: 5 – 11
   4. Exodus 20: 3- 5
   5. Joshua 24: 14 – 15
   6. Deuteronomy 30: 19 – 20