Tags
faithfulness, God, Great Buddha, idolatry, idols, Japan, Jesus, Kamakura, Nagakute, self-will
When was the last time you thought about idols or idolatry? Frankly it’s not something I think about often. Idols and idolatry are relics from another time, place or culture, or are they?
Our trip to Japan this past May brought idols back into focus. They are visible in homes, at national shrines and street corners.
Street Corner Idol — Nagakute, Japan — David Kitz
The Old Testament prophets would frequently rail against the idolatry of the people of Israel. Though God was faithful, His people were not faithful. They were guilty of worshiping idols of silver and gold. It’s quite easy to make a link with our modern pursuit of prosperity. Has that become our god? Perhaps we need a biblical reminder. The Ten Commandments begin with this injunction: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
What do we worship? What occupies first place in our lives? Where do our thoughts naturally turn? Do they turn to the LORD, or our favorite sports team—to Jesus or today’s hottest celebrity? Jesus commanded us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Is that your first pursuit? Are we faithful to him?
Actually, I think we are skirting the real issue. The real idol—the preeminent idol in today’s western world—is the idol of self. All too often I put myself, my comfort and well-being ahead of everything else, and that includes Jesus and his kingdom. What I want comes first. What God wants will just have to jockey for attention along with all the other demands upon my life. If I’m brutally honest, most often, that’s how I run my life. How about you?
Great Buddha, Kamakura, Japan — David Kitz
Do we have a problem with idolatry? Absolutely! And we are too deceived to recognize it. The god we bow down to is the god of self and our self-will, rather than our Creator and Redeemer.
Response: LORD God, forgive me for my putting myself, my interests, my comforts and pleasures ahead of you. Help me tear down my idol to self. I want to be faithful—fully faithful to you. Amen.
http://www.davidkitz.ca/
I love the Psalms 
Very insightful post; I’m in total agreement especially with your last 2 paragraphs and response.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thes 2:3-4
“And who is this man of sin that sitteth in the temple of God, on the very throne of God and proclaims that he, himself, is God? It is none other than self! And self disguises itself in one form or another. Among, those who are engaged in the sins of the saloon, self is a just an openly selfish, unruly character. Among the intellectuals, self is the very polished man of reason. And among the religious philosophers, self is much more that just self. It is a sanitized version of self which is called the “higher self”. But, no matter how many ways one tries to slice it, or what view is presented of it, self is still self. But, if one walks the progressive road of salvation of spirit, soul and body, this man of sin is destroyed.”
Blessings & thank you.
Well said. Worship of self comes in many guises, but it always draws us away from Jesus, who alone is worthy of our praise.
I agree completely.
Thanks again for your devotion David.
I Was just reading today “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt.6
May Jesus be at the centre of our life, and life’s goals.
The Word of God is the plumb line to keep us on track, and get us back.
Rejoicing in Jesus,
Louie
Amen to that Louie. It’s easy to allow other affections to creep in and choke out our love for God.