Idolatry Today

Colossians 3:5 ¶ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Covetousness ... greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious mean having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions. covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.

I want to focus today on how covetousness leads to idolatry.

In our society today, secular or in ministry, we tend to "covet" what another is or has. The Bible says to covet the best gifts, it does not mean for us to "make" those gifts work.

 We have the gift/s that God bestows upon each one of us and we are to "work" those gifts, grow spiritually to strengthen and build those gifts. That they will glorify God not self; desiring to further the Kingdom of God for His glory, not your own. Yet, many are turning the desire (coveting) the best gifts into idolatry of the person that is working in the gifts God gave them. You cannot be them, you can only be who God made you to be. Idolatry begins where you place your desire to be "like them" over building what God called you to be. Sure, we all love to be the man/woman/child laying on hands (or breathing on) people and they recover immediately from afflictions/disease/deformities. 

Let me say, it is not the person doing the healing! God is placing His anointing on whom He chooses as a tool to perform that work for Him. God did not call you to be a puppet or mimic.. except to follow and mimic Jesus Christ. To be like Jesus. To follow His leading is the only one you should "mimic". In word or deed!

Instead of Idolizing those people that are doing the works of the Lord, start at the Word of God and learn His ways, learn who and what He is - learn of HIM. Then, what gifts are applied to you will begin to work in you. You have to do your part! Talk to the Lord, prayer is not just an "ask it basket."

 Prayer is simply talking to the Lord. Praise Him always.

Then, we have the "desires" to have what the neighbor has. He/she bought a new car this week. So what do you do? Go out and buy you a new car! Perhaps one that you know you can't even afford.

Idolatry of things, or that neighbor that you think has better stuff than you. We have all heard the quote, "keeping up with the Jones". Most likely you have quoted that yourself about someone else not thinking or realizing that you are doing it yourself? IT has become idolatry. 

I have heard my Mother say, "I wish I had that and they had a better one!" There is nothing wrong with wanting some things. Yet, wishing them a better one does not negate the "idolatry" attitude either. Our speech betrays our heart/mindset. The Bible says that from the heart the mouth speaks. 

Check your heart, God already knows what is in there. Perhaps, that is why "they" are working the gifts of God or have the blessings of things they want.... the heart is in the right place. 

Covetousness

Strong desire to have that which belongs to another. It is considered to be a very grievous offense in Scripture. The tenth commandment forbids coveting anything that belongs to a neighbor, including his house, his wife, his servants, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to him ( Exod 20:17 ). Jesus listed covetousness or greed along with many of the sins from within, including adultery, theft, and murder, which make a person unclean ( Mr 7:22 ). Paul reminded the Ephesians that greed or covetousness is equated with immorality and impurity, so that these must be put away ( 5:3 ). A covetous or greedy person is an idolator ( 5:5 ) and covetousness is idolatry ( Col 3:5 ). James warns that people kill and covet because they cannot have what they want ( 4:2 ).

Covetousness, therefore, is basic to the commandments against murder, adultery, stealing, and lying. Those who accept bribes are coveting, leading to murder ( Eze 22:12 ). Coveting a neighbor's wife is a form of adultery ( Exod 20:17 ). Achan admitted to coveting a robe and silver and gold, so he stole them, which was a sin against the Lord ( Jos 7:20-22 ). Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, coveted the property of Naaman so much that he lied to get what he wanted from Naaman the leper ( 2 Ki 5:19-25 ) and was struck with leprosy. Proverbs warns that a covetous person brings trouble to his family ( 15:27 ). Thus covetousness is the root of all kinds of sins, so that Jesus gave the warning, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed" ( Luke 12:15 ).  William J. Woodruff

Just like the short story about the Indian boy, Grandfather told him that the one you feed is the one that wins. Same here, you choose whether you idolize a thing or person. What are you putting before God, which master are you serving today? Movie star, neighbor; we don't always "build" a graven image to worship (although some think a little green fat man is their god). 

I knew a lady that would skip church because they were having "family time" that day. Another, couldn't come to church because the son/daughter had a ball game that night. Now I know there a lot of legitimate reasons for not "being there", but is that event more important to you? What is keeping you from God? I just named a few things, there are many that will sway you from your walk/talk with Him if YOU let it. If you feed it. If you idolize "IT". Colossians 3:5 ...fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 Psalms  51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Bless you all. 

Anna