IDOLATRY
Man is a worshipping being. Departing from Divine guidance, man succumbed to giving
homage to birds, bulls and crocodiles, as well as to the sun, moon, stars and mythical creatures.
So numerous have been the idols of man that scarcely is there a created object that has not, at one
time or another, received human veneration. The New Testament comments on man’s idolatrous
habits in Romans 1:25, “for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Idolatry is rendering
ultimate devotion to an object of limited value. In ancient Israel idolatry brought grief and shame
(Jer. 11:13; Hosea 9:10) and was punishable by physical death (Ex. 22:20). Our world today is “brim full and running over” with multiplied idols, not all of which are
made of wood, or stone, of silver or gold, etc.
1. Covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5). The shrine of prosperity and possessions has many
devotees. Sadly, an inordinate desire for wealth has caused many to stumble. The Bible says “the
love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). 2. A life of ease is idolatry. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If any man would come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The cross is not made of feathers
and wrapped in velvet. Sometimes its more like lead wrapped in sandpaper!
3. Worldly pleasure is idolatry. Unfortunately for its followers, it is a fading idol--lasting
only “for a season” (Heb. 11:25). True happiness, however, endures forever: “In thy presence is
fullness of joy” (Psa. 16:11). 4. Compromising the truth is idolatry. This idols sits in the great benevolent lap of those
who prize peace at any price. It is easy for people believe nothing to agree on anything. Paul
wrote, “preach the word, be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering an d teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). He also wrote that elders must be men “holding to the
faithful word” (Titus 1:9). Anything that dethrones God from the heart is idolatry. God said, “I am the Lord, and there
is none else, there is no God beside me...” (Isa. 45:5). Say, dear, reader are you an idolater?
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Trying to justify a fault only doubles it!
Love ya,
Jesse
homage to birds, bulls and crocodiles, as well as to the sun, moon, stars and mythical creatures.
So numerous have been the idols of man that scarcely is there a created object that has not, at one
time or another, received human veneration. The New Testament comments on man’s idolatrous
habits in Romans 1:25, “for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Idolatry is rendering
ultimate devotion to an object of limited value. In ancient Israel idolatry brought grief and shame
(Jer. 11:13; Hosea 9:10) and was punishable by physical death (Ex. 22:20). Our world today is “brim full and running over” with multiplied idols, not all of which are
made of wood, or stone, of silver or gold, etc.
1. Covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5). The shrine of prosperity and possessions has many
devotees. Sadly, an inordinate desire for wealth has caused many to stumble. The Bible says “the
love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). 2. A life of ease is idolatry. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If any man would come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The cross is not made of feathers
and wrapped in velvet. Sometimes its more like lead wrapped in sandpaper!
3. Worldly pleasure is idolatry. Unfortunately for its followers, it is a fading idol--lasting
only “for a season” (Heb. 11:25). True happiness, however, endures forever: “In thy presence is
fullness of joy” (Psa. 16:11). 4. Compromising the truth is idolatry. This idols sits in the great benevolent lap of those
who prize peace at any price. It is easy for people believe nothing to agree on anything. Paul
wrote, “preach the word, be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering an d teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). He also wrote that elders must be men “holding to the
faithful word” (Titus 1:9). Anything that dethrones God from the heart is idolatry. God said, “I am the Lord, and there
is none else, there is no God beside me...” (Isa. 45:5). Say, dear, reader are you an idolater?
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Trying to justify a fault only doubles it!
Love ya,
Jesse
Comments
Post a Comment