Idolatry is serious business. God has put in each person a void that only He can fill, and the awesome part of this is that the void is one that longs to be filled. It's as if we all search to put our store and hope in something, but often we misplace our heart, missing the mark and setting our store into worldly possessions that do not last. Where is your treasure? That's where your heart is, too.
Idolatry takes many forms, but no matter which one your idol takes, they all have one common aspect: they are all selfish. We idolize objects or people because we are not completely dependent on God but rather on ourselves. When we put our whole hope in anything other than God, we are saying we don't trust Him to provide for our ultimate sustenance. We are saying that we know better than He does to meet our needs, and perhaps the saddest part is that often-if not always-we idolize gifts that are meant for our enjoyment. Every good and perfect gift is from above, but our human nature gives in to Satan's deceitfulness and twists those God-given gifts into distortions that have the potential to consume our souls. We believe the lie that we need more than we do (social networking comes to mind) or that the gifts are ours rather than borrowed from the Giver. We so often worship creations rather than the Creator.
Objects are not bad. Desires are not wrong. Badness is made that way by being changed bad from something that is inherently good. We are meant to enjoy gifts-not elevate their status to one that is above the Lord's.
The passage above from Matthew is referring to money as an idol, one that people in American society are indeed commonly consumed with. In Jesus' day, the lamp was thought to be like a window that carried light into the body. An eye could either be good or bad. Because the surrounding verses focus on wealth, the meaning of the word good seems to imply generous and the word bad being greedy. A generous eye brings moral health while a greedy eye has the potential to corrupt a person's entire perspective. Although the focus is finances, this concept applies to anything gained. We should feel blessed, not deserving, of the gifts we receive, because if our mindset is humble, we are able to produce two actions:
1) We give glory due to God, where it belongs
2) We share what is given to us, knowing it is not ours originally
So, how do you pinpoint your idols? I heard a pastor speak today on this topic and what he said rings true: what holds the key to your heart? If that person/item/concept was taken from you, what would your response be? Is God's grace sufficient for your yearning heart? Is your time devoted to the Lord and His work, or something else? Do your actions spur out of selfish or selfless motives? Do you store up fleeting treasures now or wait for lasting ones in Heaven?
When we place anyone or anything above God, we are cheating on Him, and that's a heart issue. Maybe you need to take time alone with God and remind yourself of your first love. Dwell on His holy characteristics. Spend time with the Spirit. Let what Christ has done sink in. A lot of us know idolatry is wrong, but often we forget. Even if you don't see a looming problem in the way of you and God's relationship, it's a good idea to strengthen that bond. When two people are in a relationship, they spend time to invest in that relationship, even if they've been together for fifty years or known each other a good long while. It's the same with God. We shouldn't just enter into a relationship and then stop. Our connection with Him should be the strongest one in our lives, and like any relationship, it takes daily nourishment, consistent growth, and honest communication. Don't let idols get in the way of the ultimate One who longs for your heart.
He is jealous for us. Oh, how He loves.
