The Bible talks about idolatry a lot. Idolatry is the worshipping of anything other than the one True God, our Lord. We can see God’s clear command against idols in Exodus 20:3-5. Now, we might read this & think, “idols are like statues made to look like people or animals - I don’t have to worry about idols in my life” Well, while many idols were made of wood or precious metals and sculpted in order for people to bow down & worship, idols today look a lot different…
Disordered loves is an idea that we see Augustine write about, where he highlights the way we love less-important things more, & more-important things less. This, at its core, is idolatry; putting something before God.
All of us love many things. Our families, friends, jobs, homes, hobbies, & abilities. The problem is, the greatest love is found in Jesus; He must be first & foremost. I’ve been reading Isaiah 41-44 the past couple days, & it highlights this idea of loving something that is created more than the Creator. This disordered love can be as simple as considering what you turn to first in the difficult moments. Do you look towards God, or towards someone or something else? Do we try to fill our needs in the lesser places, rather than the greatest One? God is the Giver of life & all the good gifts we have… but how often do we focus on the gifts instead of the Giver?
This idea of idolatry & disordered loves has had me reflect with the Spirit on what I may be putting before Him in this season of my life. My encouragement is that we would spend time in prayer & in the Word (Isaiah 41-44 is a good place to start!) in order that the Holy Spirit would make us aware of the ways we may not be putting God first.
Keep the Creator before the created.
Love the Giver more than the gifts.
This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
~Isaiah 42:5-9 NIV
