As we have been taking a more in-depth look at the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:18-21, covering immorality, impurity, and sensuality, we will continue this week with the next in the list—idolatry.
We may think that no one worships idols anymore, but in fact it is very widespread in every nation and culture, including all of the nations of the West, and even among Christians. How could any Christian ever fall to worshiping idols? This is one of the most important questions we can ask as this is one of the most subtle and devastating sins of the heart that can befall many Christians.
An idol is not just an inanimate object that one bows down to and worships—it is anything that we put our trust or our affections in above God. This can include our money, jobs, education, country, spouse, children, sports, pastor, favorite teacher, favorite author, or just about anything. It is no accident that famous athletes and entertainers are often called “idols,” as many people’s affection for them and devotion to them can easily eclipse their affection and devotion for God.
Idolatry comes in many forms. Of course, probably the most common idols in the West are wealth or material possessions, which the book of Revelation explains will be one of the ultimate idols in the last days. That is why the mark of the beast is an economic mark, determining if we can buy, sell, or trade. It is imperative for Christians to have sound teaching and a strong foundation in how they handle their money and possessions.
However, some of the most deceptive and devastating forms of idolatry that have gained a widespread following in the church are the worship of the things of God in place of God. There are many Christians who worship the church more than God. There are many who worship the Bible, prayer, the gifts of the Spirit, etc. more than they worship God.
It is common for those who are in “the ministry” to let the ministry become the focus of their devotion over their personal relationship to the Lord. This has happened to me frequently and was the reason why I left the ministry for seven years—I felt that my personal relationship to God had become increasingly shallow. I also felt that I had to get my relationship to God back or I would ultimately be a failure regardless of how many people I “led to the Lord,” who in fact were being led more to me.
Even ministry for God becomes an idol when it becomes our main devotion instead of the means to God that it is meant to be. For this reason, I have heard some preachers say that we should seek the Giver and not the gifts. This may sound wise, but is in fact contradictory to the Scripture which tells us to seek the gifts. Such an overreaction can actually lead to even worse transgressions. As the Lord Jesus Himself made clear to us, if we do not seek to know and use the gifts that He has given to us, we are guilty of burying the talents, which are the ones He called, “wicked, lazy slaves!” (Matthew 25:26).
Again, there is a ditch on either side of the path of life. Those who are prone to overreact to extremes will inevitably fall to the opposite extreme. It is wisdom to seek the Giver more than the gifts, but it is not only wisdom, it is obedience to His Word to seek the gifts as well. Those who understand spiritual gifts come to understand that seeking the gifts is in fact one way that we seek God Himself. The gifts of the Spirit are God Himself working through us.
The wise seek everything that they can receive from God, but they seek God Himself even more. Those who foolishly think that they will not seek anything from God, but just trust Him to give them what He wants them to have, have a very flawed understanding of His ways. He only gives to those who care enough to ask. Some do not want to seek the gifts or other benefits from God until they feel like they deserve it. That is the root of a religious spirit, not the Spirit of God. We can never deserve anything from God, and we would never receive anything from Him, including our salvation, if we had to wait until we deserved it. Those who hold to such unbiblical teachings or practices inevitably become bound and deceived by a religious spirit that they serve in place of God.
We should settle it now that we will never be wise enough, mature enough, or righteous enough to deserve anything from God, but that we are going to pursue everything He will give to us! We do not want to be like the elder brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son who had access to all that his father had, but did not use it, and because of this became jealous of his brother who did. Such is a root of jealousy, and jealousy is one of the most deadly sins. We are told that envy was the reason why Jesus was crucified. We are coming to the Lord as foolish and unrighteous as the prodigal son, and we do not deserve to even be a slave in His house, but we would be foolish to turn down a single thing God wants to give us, including the full inheritance as a son.
However, we do not want to come to Him presumptuously either. Some think that they can claim or demand their inheritance, which the Word is also clear is a tragic mistake. Again, there is a ditch on either side of the path of life. We come to Him as sons and daughters, but also with humility, having the utmost respect for our Father, but also knowing how undeserving we are, just as the prodigal was. We should also come asking Him to give us the wisdom to handle His gifts and resources rightly, realizing that we are not wise or righteous enough for any of this without Him.
We also must pursue Him more than anything He can give us. Erskine Holt, who recently passed away after more than half century of traveling and ministering, and who I consider possibly the first true apostle I ever met, once told me a story that I will never forget. He had just returned home from an extensive trip and had spent almost a whole day seeking a perfect gift for his wife. When he walked in he gave it to her and could not wait for her to open it. She looked at the package and threw it in the trash saying, “I don’t want a gift—I want you!”
Of course that meant more to him than her joy in any gift that he could have ever given her. I asked him the same question you may be thinking, and yes, she did later dig the gift out of the trash. Gifts are good too, but they must never become greater than our love for God or His people.
Anything that we have affection for or trust in can begin to eclipse God in our affections and trust. However, the way to avoid idolatry is not to love these less, but to love God more. It is also wrong to not put some trust in other people, but we must always trust in God more. If we love God more than we love others, we will love them more than we would otherwise. If we trust God more than we trust anyone or anything else, we are free to trust others far more than we would otherwise.
The things that we love and have a hope or trust in are usually gifts from God that He wants us to appreciate and love. As we are told in Psalm 37:4-5: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” The Lord loves to give good gifts to His children. He loves to see their delight in the gifts. He just does not want the gifts to eclipse our love for Him and delight in Him.
Mike Bickle has been one of my favorite preachers and people since I first met him back in 1988. I think few people have a passion for the Lord like Mike does. He lives for prayer and may have logged more time in prayer rooms than anyone else alive today. However, when he started the prayer movement called the International House of Prayer (IHOP), he had the wisdom to call it “the harp and bowl” ministry, combining worship and intercession. All prayer that is just intercession without the affection of worship can become a dead form very easily and can itself become an idol. It is a good thing to see this model of prayer and worship combined sweeping across the worldwide body of Christ.
The point of these teachings is not just so we learn some things, but so we will be changed by them, becoming vessels fit for the Master’s use. We are examining these works of the flesh so we can repent of any way that they may have a grip on our lives. The answer to sexual lust is not to give up sex, but to develop a healthy sex life with your spouse, or if you do not have a spouse, as the Scripture implores, get one! (see I Corinthians 7:9)
The answer to idolatry is not to give up having affection for anyone or anything else, but to love God more. He is more interesting, wonderful, attractive, compelling, and desirable than anything or anyone else. Let us not keep depriving ourselves by not taking full advantage of the relationship that we can have with Him. Your day or your life will only be successful to the degree that you have walked with Him. We might measure the success of our life by how we have loved God in it.