The Heart of Idolatry

Idolatry: a word that some people may cringe at, want to run away from or simply do not understand the definition of. Running from this word only confirms the love of it and unwillingness to turn from it.

Anything that you love, fear, trust or serve more than God cultivates an idol and replaces God.

There are three underlying causes that drive our idolatry:

  • Distrust of God
  • Disobedience to God
  • Distortion of God

Distrust of God

Have you ever struggled to trust God in His timing? Have you ever doubted that God would come through for you?

Distrust happens when God is not operating on our timeline.

God’s timing will never miss a beat in your life; He is always on time. Why? Because God exists beyond the realm of time, and time submits to Him. Why doubt God when time itself bows at the mention of His name?

The enemy will use your thoughts to try and convince you that God is anything but trustworthy and faithful. The delay of timing is not of God. God is faithful to move and provide according to His perfect Will.

The Israelites struggled to trust God’s timing. They were led out of Egypt by God through His prophet Moses. Moses retreated to a nearby mountain afterward, leaving the Israelites to themselves. They immediately doubted God’s timing. They cultivated idols to replace what they thought was God being absent in their present situation (Exodus 32:1-4).

When we place time restraints on God, we distrust God and allow idols to take root in our lives. We often make our requests known to Him with due dates in mind.

Waiting on God can be an opportunity for growth instead of an opportunity to see God as delayed. 

Disobedience to God

Disobedience results in straying and falling back into what was left behind. The Israelites formed a golden calf as an idol. It was an act of gaining control of the present situation.

Idols used to gain control are like scarecrows in a cucumber field– they do not do anything for you (Jeremiah 10:3-5). Disobedience is the desire for control, and the desire for control can become an idol in our lives.

Idols are a direct disobedience to God’s commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). We cannot serve both the world and God (Matthew 6:24).

Distortion of God

Distortion of God takes place when cultural standards try to put God in a box and decide what role He will play in life. Distorted views of God can creep into areas, such as any religion, relationship, regulation or rule, recreation, and reasoning. Even good things in our lives can become idols if we do not prioritize God’s Will. 

What area of your life is affected by a distorted view of God? Recount His faithfulness and Truth to change a distorted view to a truth-filled view of God.

What do you risk trusting more than Him? 

What do you risk fearing more than Him? 

What do you risk serving more than Him?

Identify the idols, and then remove the idols of your life. 

Ephesians 4:22 reminds us to put off what is not of God, and put on the new self, which is a new creation in Christ. Allow the Lord to renew “the spirit of your minds” daily (Ephesians 4:22-24). He will work in your life more than you can ever imagine.

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Want to dig deeper? Click here for a resource to walk you through searching your own heart and life for potential idols. As you become more aware of what you may be placing above God in your life, you can pray more specifically for surrender to the Lord in those areas.

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