We live in a culture driven by idols. Learn what is idolatry and how to avoid idols.
How many times have we looked to money or people as our savior instead of God? I fell into the trap of thinking money was my savior rather than God. I took on business deals that I shouldn’t have because of our financial needs.
The mistake I made was that I didn’t ask God whether I should take these business deals before giving my yes.
I followed where the money was, but not God.
This kept me from stewarding my calling as a mother and building the ministry God entrusted to me. I ended up obeying God and letting go of the business deals. It was then that I could feel God’s grace upon my life to do what He has called me to do.
As I stepped out in faith to pursue Living Revelations wholeheartedly, I started to see God bring the provision through the ministry.
This was a reminder to me that God is my Savior, not money.
What is Idolatry?
God makes it clear that we are not to have any gods before him (Exodus 20:3). Jesus alone is the One we are to follow. What is idolatry? Idolatry is anything we put above God. Idolatry begins when we believe God is not enough.
It’s in the moment we say, “I need to have this,” that what we start to develop an idol in our hearts. Money, relationships, fame, etc., can easily become idols if we are not careful to remember that Jesus is all we need. We must always put God first.
Money is not bad, but when money becomes our main ambition, it can become an idol where we see money as our savior and not God.
God warns us in I Timothy 6:9-10, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
The love of money can cause us to stray from the faith, leading us to destruction and hell.
Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Don’t believe the lie that you can serve God and idols. Idolatry removes God from our lives. When we read the Old Testament, we see countless times that idols and the high places where people worshipped idols would always pull people away from God.
We cannot tolerate idolatry.
Let’s not make our ambitions to be rich, but rather to do the will of God and use our finances for His purposes and not our own personal gain.
The enemy wants us to live short-minded, thinking of worldly pleasures, but God invites us to live with eternity in mind. The money we have now should be used to store up eternal treasures for the life to come when Jesus comes back.
Everything we have now on earth will disappear (1 Timothy 6:7), but our good deeds done for God will account for us riches that we will get to enjoy for eternity in heaven.
Are you following where the money is or God’s leading?
Don’t let money rule you. If you serve money, you will live a life of worry because money cannot guarantee you security. If you serve God, you will never have to worry because He is faithful to provide all our needs.
Jesus tells us right after verse 24 not to worry about what we will eat or drink. He tells us that God knows what we need and to simply seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:25-33). As long as we put God first, everything else that we need will come.
How to avoid Idols in our Lives
How do we guard ourselves from forming idols in our lives? By looking to Jesus as our only Savior — the One who satisfies us and the only One that we need.
May we continue to carry the heart of Psalm 23:1 that says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.“
The world will constantly remind us that we need everything but God. These are the times when we have to renew our minds with God’s truth and remember that God is all we need. Discontentment births idolatry. The moment when discontentment springs up, we must give thanks to God and rejoice. Giving thanks to God puts God back where He belongs and gives us the right perspective of who He is.
Paul says in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Paul was able to avoid idolatry because He looked to Jesus as His source of strength. We must put God first and remember that all we need is found in Him and through Him.
Practice taking refuge in Jesus when troubles or discontentment arise. Psalm 18:30 says, “God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Do you acknowledge that Jesus alone is your Savior? Are you being led by Jesus or idols like money?
1 Timothy 6:17-19 says, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
It can be easy to make marriage/relationship, success, fame, or a career an idol in our lives.
If we believe we need to be in a relationship to feel happy, or that we need to achieve a certain career or level of success to be fulfilled, then those things have become idols in our hearts.
The truth is, nothing will satisfy us except Jesus. Only Jesus was made to be our all satisfaction. We were made to worship Jesus alone.
While marriage, success, and family are beautiful things to have, they were never meant to take the place of God.
Jesus says in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Is there a person or thing that you have put above God? Have you positioned Jesus to be your Savior, the only One you need?
Follow Jesus and put God First
Let Jesus be the one you look to for guidance. Don’t follow where the money is, but follow His leading. There is safety in trusting Jesus.
Trust that God knows the best way for you to invest your time, gifts, and resources for His kingdom and glory.
Contentment is possible in Jesus, but it requires us to seek Jesus and make Him our delight. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Where are you turning for rest and satisfaction? The world offers many things before us that can tempt us to seek after those things instead of Jesus, causing us to feel discontent in our current season.
It can be that vacation you’ve always wanted, or a spouse you’ve been praying for, or the financial breakthrough you need. While these things may be good, let us not lose sight of the One who is good and all satisfying—Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:6-7 says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” Godliness with contentment is great gain. Look to Jesus for contentment. He promises to not leave us hungry and thirsty.
We need to remember that the things of this world will not last forever. What will last forever is our relationship with Jesus. May we set our affections on things above and not on earthly things that will pass away (Colossians 3:2).
Will you take time throughout the day to worship Jesus and seek Him in the Word? So remember, do not fall into idolatry.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to follow You above all else. Keep me from chasing idols like money or success, and remind me that You alone satisfy. Teach me to trust Your leading, find contentment in every season, and live for what matters eternally.
Listen to our Podcast “What is Idolatry and Not Falling into Idolatry”
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