Idols

A few weeks ago I was perusing my Twitter feed when I came across a post by Timothy Keller on Idolatry. Here's a snapshot of the post:


"Life only has meaning/ I only have worth if…

· I am able to get mastery over my life in THIS area. (Control Idolatry)

· People are dependent and need me (Helping Idolatry)

· Someone is there to protect and keep me safe (Dependence Idolatry)

· I am free from obligations or responsibilities (Independence Idolatry)

· I am highly productive and getting a lot done. (Work Idolatry)

· I am being recognized for my accomplishments, and am excelling in work. (Achievement Idolatry)

· I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions (Materialism Idolatry)

· I am adhering to my religion’s moral codes and accomplished in its activities. (Religion Idolatry)

· I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and am living by a self-made morality. (Irreligion Idolatry)

· This one person is my life and/or is happy with me. (Individual Person Idolatry)

· My race and culture is ascendant and recognized as superior. (Racial/Cultural Idolatry)

· A particular social or professional grouping lets me in. (Inner Ring Idolatry)


· My children and/or parents are happy and happy with me. (Family Idolatry)

· Mr. or Ms. “Right” is in love with me. (Relationship Idolatry)

· I am hurting, in a problem; only then do I feel worthy of love or able to deal with guilt. (Suffering Idolatry)

· My political or social cause is making progress and ascending in influence or power. (Ideology)

· I have a particular kind of look or body image. (Image idolatry)"

I was instantly convicted. I am guilty of living in idolatry in multiple categories. Why would I give my worship to some of these things? Why would I derive my value from control, or work, or suffering? Because it's natural. Let's be real, America has a cultural addiction to work. We're capitalists. And it's not just us, it's every culture to some extent. But I don't want to lend control over my emotions and spirit to work. I believe there is a cure.


I've been reading a lot of the prophets in the Old Testament lately who speak to idolatry quite direct. Micah 5:13 speaks of a promised ruler who will come and destroy idols. He says, "I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands." That is it. My inclination to idolatry infects me because I am bent on measuring my life from what I do, what I control, how hard things are for me. It's all about me. But Micah offers a solution. By Micah 6:8 he has just finished reminding the hearers of God's intervention on behalf of Israel. The Lord's plea is that we would look to him and be reminded that our value comes from Him and what He has done. He finishes with a closing appeal to "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." I am called to do right, love receiving the mercy of God (his compassion), and walk in a posture of receiving God. My worth comes from there. That's so much more freeing than trying to manufacture worth and meaning. I'm too tired of trying to measure up. I thank God I don't have to live that way anymore.


May I slow down enough each day to soak in the mercy of Jesus to receive my worth so that I can go out and love the world in the way it needs.