Idolatry… “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.” – Habakkuk 2:18
Idolatry is the worship of something or someone other than God. For example, money, success, the universe, a spouse or relationship, crystals, sage, titles, ministry, food, nature, drugs, etc. You may not be aware that you are doing idol worship because sometimes it comes in the form of comfort. My main focus was on money. Not necessarily the need for it, but the idea that I could not live without it. Money is exciting, but with it, I left God out. It wasn’t until I lost it that my idol worship of money forced me to shift my focus toward God.
As a single mother, my son is my priority, and having the funds to survive came second. I didn’t know it was possible to shift my mind from loving money and depending on it to supply my needs — to God supplying all of my needs, money included. God is the provider (Jehovah-Jireh). Before Him, I worked hard so that me and my son could have everything needed. My co-dependency on money left no room for God. I couldn’t even fathom letting go of the love I had for it. I obsessed over having money. The Bible speaks about “the love” of money, being the root of evil. There was much evil in my heart before receiving salvation.
The first commandment of the 10 Commandments says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” God is serious about being the only One you worship. When God calls you, He will separate you from whatever you consider more important than Him. So, what are some signs you may be operating in idolatry?
money, success, career, or job
Here’s an example of idolatry in the form of money, success, a career, or a job. Say you’re doing well financially, but then you begin losing everything you worked hard for. You panic or go into depression. This could be a sign of idolatry. In the book of Job, we learn how God allowed Satan to take Job’s children, health, and possessions. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die, and his friends blamed him for what happened to him, but Job continued to trust God. His faith was in God, not his possessions. Job 1:21-22 says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and Naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” God restored to Job double everything he lost because of his righteousness.
Are you living righteously? Is your focus mainly on profit (success) rather than purpose (God’s will)? You could be operating in idolatry.
Universe, crystals, sage, nature, astrology, tarot cards, mediums…
If you pray to the universe or seek healing or miracles from crystals, sage, nature, astrology, tarot cards, mediums, etc… you are operating in idolatry. Even superstitions can be idolatry. Crystals are beautiful. There is nothing wrong with having them, except when using them to attract things or people. Likewise, incense can make your surroundings smell nice, but burning incense or sage to get rid of evil spirits is idolatry. Doing these things will only conjure up evil spirits and open demonic doors. In the Old Testament, many burned incense to worship or make sacrifices to God. (Exodus 30:7-8) gives an example of this. However, because God sent His son to die for us, it ended the need for burnt offerings and those sacrifices once and for all (Hebrews 10:8-10). Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice.
Deuteronomy 18:10-11 says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or who consults the dead.” Some people who claim to be Followers of Christ use crystals and sage for protection, healing, and love, but they are operating in idolatry. The Lord is your protector (Psalm 18:2). God is your healer (Psalm 107:20-21). He will send you love (Genesis 2:18). God is love (1 John 4:7). You do not need any of those things to reach Him. The only way to reach God is through Jesus via prayer. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Drugs and alcohol
The enemy will lie to you and leave you thinking that you must be co-dependent on drugs and alcohol to cope with life, but the truth is that Jesus can free you of those habits. People say things like, “I need to smoke; I cannot function unless I smoke.” “I am stressed; I need to drink.” “I am so messed up; I need pills.” As a result, those needs become your god (idolatry). You depend on them for peace or to cope rather than God. When you become co-dependent on drugs and alcohol to the point of addiction, you have allowed those coping mechanisms to take over. Deliverance sets you free. I’ve seen people spend lots of money on drugs and alcohol but don’t have any money left for food or life necessities. Peace is free when it’s from the Prince of Peace, who saves and delivers.
(1 Peter 4:7) says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The enemy wants your mind to be clouded and under the influence so that he can wreak havoc in your life, but there is hope in Jesus from the bondage of drugs and alcohol.
Spouse or other Relationships
Some people feel like they cannot live without another person. Often, they look for their source of happiness, peace, healing, or fulfillment through a spouse or other relationships, but true fulfillment comes from God. It is okay to receive those things from a spouse, but not in a way that substitutes God. Only Jesus can make you whole. Humans are flawed and will often disappoint you. That is why you shouldn’t look for them to be the source of your peace and happiness. Have a Christ-centered relationship to help fight against any sin or temptation that may try to come between marriages or other relationships. Learn to pray and go to your Heavenly Father because only He can turn relationships around. ***Make sure it is a God-centered relationship. God does not want you in a relationship that involves abuse or sexual immorality, such as fornication.***
Ministry
You may believe that only a ministry, minister, and their gifts can heal, deliver, and save you. That may be true, but it’s also your job to read the Bible and pray yourself. God gave you the power to do so (Acts 1:8). The person in ministry is only human and can do so much. What happens if that ministry or minister disappoints you? Are you going to walk away from God and church altogether? If so, it could mean you are operating in idolatry. The person in ministries’ job is to do the will of God, but it is your job to get into the Word and establish an intimate relationship with God. You need more than two days out of the week. That minister or ministry is not God, only a vessel used for Him.
Final Thoughts
God is the ultimate resource, spiritual source, peace, relationship, and comfort you need. He wants you to have success, prosperity, a spouse, and the other desires of your heart. Not for self-centered needs but rather to worship Him, serve others, and build His Kingdom. I mentioned a few acts of idolatry that I’ve seen the most, but there are more. Maybe you are operating in idolatry and don’t know it, or you know someone else who is. I hope this article gave you insight into different ways idolatry happens. Share this article with others. Know that He is God, and there is no other (Isaiah 45:5).
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