Idols--setting ones heart desire on something above God. So, usually we think of idols as something pretty tangible, but the older I get the more I see myself setting my desires on the less tangible. So, the other day I posted about "Parental Idols". So here on some "Spousal Idols" that I read in the book, "Excellent Wife", by Martha Peace:
1. Good health
2. Physical Appearance
3. Being treated fairly
4. Having a hurt free pain free life
5. Having a Christian Marriage
6. Worldly pleasures (drugs, alcohol, sex)
7. A child or children
8. Another person
9. A material thing
10. An ideal (pro-life, peace movement, etc)
11. Money
12. Success
13. Other's approval
14. Being in control
15. Having your needs met
As long as everything is going alright in the areas I have my heart set on I usually will feel "alright", but as soon as it is removed, or slightly so, I freak out. Maybe even to the point of desperation. I find myself willing to do anything to gain it all back, I might even be willing to sin. Currently, as I type this the Lord has revealed to me that I have an idol that I was not aware of. I realized it yesterday...when something/someone moved my idol and I was willing to sin to regain that idol. So sad.
The things listed above are kind of settle type idols we can have because in and of themselves they are not wrong. But when my heart is set on them above my devotion to God they become an idol. My deepest affection and longing should be for the Lord...but some of the things above tend to replace the Lord at times.
I know that they are not idols when they are removed and I am okay with it and still have a heart devoted to God and what he desires for me.
One last thought by Elyse Fitzpatrick:
"What are you longing for? If you long for earthly security or pleasure, then fear will win over faith. If your riches are here on earth, then they are subject to destruction or loss, and that possibility will make you fearful. But if your treasure really is in heaven, you'll be able to act in faith because you don't have anything to lose."
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5 comments:
Love Martha Peace. She cuts right to it doesn't she? :-) This is going to be great once I get it figured out. Thanks for the invite. And for the opportunity to have the deeper talks. We are all so busy that this is a perfect fit into our lives.
O yes, she has a way of bringing God's word up at just the right time and His word cuts through to the heart, soul and spirit and sees right through my motives.
My idols have definitely been brought to my attention lately, and it has not been easy to voice that I am loving other things more than God. But it is true. And I have been looking at my idolotry for what it is....adultery against my God. Putting it in those words makes it all the more real. He is so faithful even when we are not!
I think we all struggle with this from time to time, it's part of having a sin nature--our natural tendency is to forget God and turn to something else--to go our own way.
God has been pruning me this week too my friend. I know the pruning can hurt, but oh the joy that seekest me through the pain. Joy on the other side.
Amen sister.
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