What Is An Idol? 10 You May Be Placing Before God

The word “idol” evokes images of golden calves and God’s people wandering the wilderness searching for the Promised Land. So, the idea of modern-day idolatry seems completely unbelievable. Or is it? What is an idol today? Imagine a typical Sunday morning. You couldn’t be happier when suddenly you realize that your praise has somehow slipped from God’s greatness to the greatness of your pastor. In our celebrity-obsessed culture, even the man of God has clout!

What Is An Idol?

Merriam Webster defines an idol as “an object of extreme devotion.” Of course, many modern-day idols aren’t as vivid as a large golden calf, but they still demand a great deal of our time and energy. 

The Lord describes Himself as a jealous God, and we should not prioritize anything above him. (Exodus 20:3-6) Today, so many things compete for our attention. It may not be apparent when we have allowed a person or a product to become an idol in our life. No one intentionally chooses to revere something other than God. However, if we are not careful, admiration can grow into a fascination that controls our minds and actions. 

Some Modern-Day Idols Include:

1. Self
2. Money
3. Celebrities
4. The Pastor
5. Career
6. Friends and Family
7. Possessions
8. The Church
9. Popularity
10. Food

Self

That’s right! In the land of endless selfies and reality television, the individual is made to believe that they are the most important thing on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, a little self-care is essential, but when what you want eclipses what God wants, you’re headed for trouble. Our appearance is external. Who someone truly is can only be found on the inside. 

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

Money

They don’t call it the “Almighty Dollar” for nothing. Money within itself isn’t bad, but the love of money creates misery (1 Timothy 6:10.) We live in a society where we need funds to survive. The danger comes when there are no boundaries. Money becomes an idol when we are willing to do anything to make a buck. We cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24) 

Celebrities

Hollywood royalty, musical icons, athletic superstars, and even political giants have found a way into our hearts. To some, they are proverbial gods of the earth. They seem to have it all together when in reality, they are just people that happen to have cool jobs. Although, whose job is cooler than the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE?

The Pastor

Even God’s messenger can look like a star if you aren’t careful. Your pastor is human, not God. Their calling is to share the good news and to win souls for the Lord. They have a job to do within the kingdom just like you, and I do.

Related: The Purpose Of Life, Is A Life With Purpose

Career

For many people, their identity is attached to what they do for a living. Spiritual values like patience and kindness are secondary to man-made constructs like title and prestige. It’s important to remember that God always wants to be first in our lives. So, if you’re forfeiting time with him so that you can work on your career, it may have become an idol.

Friends and Family

Besides salvation, one of the ultimate gifts from God is having loving family and friends; these relationships are essential to our overall health and well-being. We learn how to treat those we love correctly by putting God first, even before family. We can see them spiritually, and this enriches the relationship.

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:26 (NIV) 

Possessions

It may look like the American dream; the big house with the white picket fence, the expensive car, and fine clothes. However, what we accumulate on earth has no eternal value. (Matthew 16:26 ) Instead of stocking up on temporary loot, why not plan for an everlasting future? 

The Church

To some, the church you attend is just as important as the God you serve. Parishioners love the idea of the church—its history, location, beautiful grounds, wealth and size of the congregation—pure superficiality. Yet, nothing should be greater than God’s glory.

Popularity

Being well-known can both help and hinder your life. You may find yourself with rare opportunities and with exciting people. However, the love of popularity can be pretty destructive. An obsession with the opinions of others affects who you are as a person and may cause you to compromise your moral integrity.

Food

It’s hard to believe it, but even food can become an idol. Sharing a meal is a big part of how we celebrate and show love to one another. However, using food to self-medicate can keep you from finding real solutions. Instead, try praying about the problem. You can even dance it out while listening to your favorite inspirational music. Fun!

Prioritizing Christ

We pursue popularity, nice cars, and the perfect career because we think it will make us happy. Quite often, they do, at least for a little while. The thing is, God has the kind of joy that is everlasting.

The place that idols occupy is reserved for him. So, putting God in his rightful place removes the feeling of insufficiency. By prioritizing the love of Christ, we are given the things that will genuinely make us happy. (Matthew 6:33) To stop idolatry, we must put God back in his rightful place. We have to make him the priority.