Idols come in strange shapes and sizes

In China we saw people praying to statutes of a bull, a dragon and even turtle. This brought to life the stories of the Old Testament where many were worshiping baal. Recently my youngest children and I passed a buddhist temple that had just added a new buddha to their property. My youngest son commented on how foolish it was to worship or pray to something made of stone or metal, which could not see or hear or even move. How true this is but there are also idols that do move, see and hear. Huh? Well, in the past months I have come to the shameful conclusion that I have had idols in my heart that are living. For several years I struggled with knowing that worldly possessions, titles, jobs, money were all idols deeply embedded in my heart and desires. As I rid myself of those, I had mistakenly, and harmfully, become self-righteous thinking that finally I had no idols left, but had genuinely placed Christ first and only as my desire. Wrong. Again.

A little over two years ago my niece was killed in a motorcycle accident. Among many other things, it made me evaluate how much I cherished my children. Yes, it is good to cherish and love your children. But what if the love of your children (or spouse) is your primary focus? What if in seeking to serve and love them you do not desire the Lord first and foremost? Then several other things happened with my family, my friends, loss of loved ones, that made me realize that my love and desires for the best for my children were not what they should be. These loved ones, their lives and their futures had become idols. Uggh.

So how do you balance the deep love of your spouse and children with the love of the Lord?

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the LORD will answer him by Myself." - Ezekiel 14:6-7

"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." - 1 John 5:20-21

Lately I have realized that my desire for a loving relationship with my husband, children who love the Lord, and other "good" desires were idols. Plain old idols. Maybe not made of wood or stone or bronze but just as bad. Sometimes it's easy to condemn what is obvious because it is not in our own heart, but very difficult to come to grips with condemning what is hidden within our own souls. Lord, help me to keep everything in its right place. Help me to love my wonderful husband and children but to always, always, every moment love You more. Keep me from all idols of all kinds.