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Dealing With the Idols in Your Life
By Ron M. Horner
We live in a society where movie stars are idolized. We have rock stars for idols and the follies and fantasies of people whose lives are out of control are constantly flashed before
our eyes. As Christians however, we too have idols. Our idols may just seem to be a little more spiritual.
A few years ago I heard the account of a couple who had long desired to be a part of a very prominent ministry. They talked about it, prayed about, and, in a sense, became consumed
with the thought of working for this ministry that they had become so enamored with. They even received prophetic words "confirming" their desire. They gave up their jobs and moved to where this ministry was
located. They began attending the church led by the leader of this ministry and even tried to get jobs within the ministry. Doors never opened, and after several months, the couple found themselves financially
strapped having to make payments on two homes because their old home had not yet sold, nor did it sell. This couple came into real danger financially. Disillusioned, they finally packed up and came back home. What
had happened? How could they have missed it so thoroughly? They "thought" God had spoken to them, He, in fact, had not. The answer lies in this verse in Ezekiel 14:4:
"Therefore speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him
to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols…."
This couple had made their "dream" of working with this ministry an idol. Once they had done so they began to receive "confirming" words which came to them came through the
"filter" of the idol within their heart. This verse tells us that God will speak to us according to the multitude of idols in your heart. That probably sounds strange to you at this moment, but think about it. Have
you ever wanted something so badly that you ending up forcing it to happen? Then, once it happened, you wished you could undo it? God will give you the desires of your heart many times, even if those desires aren't
what He wants for you. The filter of your idols will often determine what you receive.
The principle is this: The idols in your life become the filter through which the LORD will speak to you.
Idols Are Filters
The idols in our lives become filters for how we see things, how we hear things, how we respond to people, how we respond to God – they even affect our belief system. Much
like putting on a pair of sunglasses, your perception of the things around you is then altered.
Perhaps you have known someone who became obsessed with a new business opportunity and all they talked about was that business, all they thought about was that business, all they
listened to concerned that business…to the point that the opportunity before them had become an idol, then you have a picture of what I am speaking of.
At the point of idolatry, falsehood is given place. That person has opened the door to be spoken to "in accordance with" their idol(s). They will see "according to the idol", they will hear "according to the idol", they will think "according to the idol", etc. If you have an idol and want to hear a "word" to "confirm it", God will allow someone to "confirm it" even though it is not his plan. He will give you what you want (sometimes because you bug him). Why is that? Because God is not undone by your idols and because he gives you the choice to serve Him in such a fashion that He is your all in all, or not.
Getting What You Want
An example of a group of people wanting something badly occurred when the children of Israel decided they had to have a king. They weren't satisfied with judges and prophets
anymore. They had to be like the other countries around them. Samuel tried to convince them that, once they got their king, they wouldn't like it, but they would not listen to Samuel, so God obliged the children of
Israel and gave them a king. Their new king – Saul, however was not the best thing to ever happen to Israel.
Samuel was right in his warnings to them, once they got their king, they wouldn't like it – and that is what happened. But, once you have a king it's pretty hard to get rid of them.
They like that king stuff and don't want to give it up easily. Once idols get set up in your life, they don't want to be toppled either.
The amount of control over your life that idols exert is amazing. They will tarnish what you see, what you hear, what you say, where you go, and what you do, what you believe, even how
you do things. One of the Ten Commandments is "…you shall have no other gods before Me…." (Exodus 20:3) God wants to be "the god" in your life. Anything else positions you to create your own trouble.
Ideal Idols
Did you realize you can have ideas in your life that become idols? Yes, you can. You might have a pet doctrine that you think is the greatest thing since Adam and Eve came
along, but even our pet doctrines have to remain submitted to the lordship of Jesus. If your pet doctrine becomes a weapon of division in the body of Christ, it is out of balance. The doctrine may even be "right"
scripturally, but the spirit by which you espouse it may be totally wrong. That doctrine has become an idol. Have you ever known someone who was adamant about ONLY using a certain version of the Bible? Often that
idea has become more important to them than the one who wrote the Bible.
You need to ask yourself, "Do I have idols in my life? What things run your life? What do you consult before you do anything? If you stopped doing a certain thing, would your life be
better for it? Am I willing to divide the body of Christ in order to elevate my idea? If so, you may have a problem.
Things as Idols
Often "things" become idols in our lives. We get that new home, that new car, that new job and its place of prominence and importance in our lives increases to the point the
things of real importance decrease. You become overly protective of and defensive of your idol. You don't want anyone to "scratch it", or you don't have time for your family because you have to take care of this new
thing. Men and women who have workaholic tendencies need to guard their lives in this arena. That job or business can easily become an obsession. We must realize that all the stuff we accumulate is still just
"stuff". It will pass away. It comes…and it goes. It is not permanent. In some places sports activities such as softball, football, or hunting become all consuming passions – they become idols in the lives of people.
We certainly should not let our relationships with our heavenly Father, our spouse, or our
children suffer because of unbalanced devotion to other things. We must set the priorities in our lives according to the Word of God and keep them in place. Cars, boats, houses, jobs, hunting season, etc., all pass away. These things can be gone in a moment. Entire nations have disappeared in a day. How much more that little pile of stuff you have? I once worked with a man who lost a over a quarter million dollars in a day on the stock market. His life was shaken!
Always be sure that what you have you own, rather than it owning you. Keep God first, your spouse second, and your children third. Your children need you speaking into their lives. Don't neglect your legacy for something so temporal as stuff.
You see, the problem with idols is they cause you to stumble into iniquity (Ezekiel 14:4). If you have idols in your life, repent and submit them to the lordship of Jesus. Put him back
on the throne in your life. Let him order your priorities and your steps. Take a hard look at yourself and see if you have let idols influence what you believe, what you say, or how you behave. Get those areas of
your life straightened out. Ask for, and receive, the Holy Spirit's help…and find yourself in a place of blessing, instead of a place of cursing. Choose life…choose Jesus…and burn your idols before they burn you!
For a printable version of this article, click here.
Dealing With the Idols in Your Life
Copyright © 2007, 2008 Ron M. Horner ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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