Confidence in Idols?
Me: "God, please help me understand. Help me be more aware. Bless my studies. I am educated. I have lots of life experience. I should understand you better. I should know what you want me to do. How can I know you better?"
God: "Get rid of your idols. Serve only me."
The wisest man to ever live (King Solomon) could not follow his own advice. He began his life humbly, and before taking over the reign of the kingdom of Israel, was given an opportunity by God to ask for blessings. Instead of riches, power, or longevity, Solomon asked for wisdom. And it was given to him. He was given wisdom like no one before or since. He ruled with wisdom and developed the reputation for conveying that wisdom to his nation and those around him. But it is one thing to have wisdom and an entirely different one to apply it to our lives.
Solomon came to view himself above the laws of God, turning to alliances with enemies and worshiping pagan idols. This great man, the wisest man to ever live, the King who built the Temple of God in Jerusalem, ignored the instructions of the God who had given him the gift of wisdom itself. He forgot to guard his heart. He began to be self-confident instead of God-dependent.
We, also, become self-confident. We forget to guard our hearts. We allow things to creep into our lives that should be kept out. How do we forget to guard our hearts? We allow other occupants in the place that should be reserved for God. Those things that we allow in His place are know be a simple term- idols. Anything that wrongfully occupies the prominent place in our lives that is reserved for God is an idol. Period. Our homes, our work, money, sex, television, hobbies, or food- they all can be idols. Also, job advancement, careers, awards, education- they can become idols if we let them.
How can we prevent our lives from being turned over to idols? The answer is easy, but actually doing it is hard. We need to put God at the center of everything we do. He is to be in the front. When scheduling activities, look at how much time you schedule for God. When reading or studying, how much time do you spend in the Word? When talking with friends or family, look at how much time you spend talking with God?
It's time I became God-dependent, not self-confident.
God: "Get rid of your idols. Serve only me."
The wisest man to ever live (King Solomon) could not follow his own advice. He began his life humbly, and before taking over the reign of the kingdom of Israel, was given an opportunity by God to ask for blessings. Instead of riches, power, or longevity, Solomon asked for wisdom. And it was given to him. He was given wisdom like no one before or since. He ruled with wisdom and developed the reputation for conveying that wisdom to his nation and those around him. But it is one thing to have wisdom and an entirely different one to apply it to our lives.
Solomon came to view himself above the laws of God, turning to alliances with enemies and worshiping pagan idols. This great man, the wisest man to ever live, the King who built the Temple of God in Jerusalem, ignored the instructions of the God who had given him the gift of wisdom itself. He forgot to guard his heart. He began to be self-confident instead of God-dependent.
We, also, become self-confident. We forget to guard our hearts. We allow things to creep into our lives that should be kept out. How do we forget to guard our hearts? We allow other occupants in the place that should be reserved for God. Those things that we allow in His place are know be a simple term- idols. Anything that wrongfully occupies the prominent place in our lives that is reserved for God is an idol. Period. Our homes, our work, money, sex, television, hobbies, or food- they all can be idols. Also, job advancement, careers, awards, education- they can become idols if we let them.
How can we prevent our lives from being turned over to idols? The answer is easy, but actually doing it is hard. We need to put God at the center of everything we do. He is to be in the front. When scheduling activities, look at how much time you schedule for God. When reading or studying, how much time do you spend in the Word? When talking with friends or family, look at how much time you spend talking with God?
It's time I became God-dependent, not self-confident.
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