Idols.
A word we sometimes think we don’t wrestle with. A word that seems foreign, Old Testament, or outdated.
But it’s not.
This is Part 2 of the series, The Lies We Believe About Idols. In Part 1, we discussed what the Bible says about idols, and answered the question, What is an idol? We also dove into the first 5 lies that we can tend to believe about idols.
If you missed Part 1, you can read it here. You’re going to want to start there before continuing on to the next 5 lies!
Before jumping into the lies, let’s remember that the things in which you find your identity, and the things that fill your mind and your heart can easily become idols.
Even if you’re not prone to propping up a shiny object on your shelf, you still may have an idol taking the place of the Lord in your heart.
So, let’s take a look at a few more things the world is telling us as it tries to weave these lies into our hearts.
Lie #6: Your image matters.
I remember being a teen and looking through beauty and fashion magazines to get an idea of what “beauty” looked like. If it wasn’t a magazine, it was the latest teen icon or music video star whose look I’d try to emulate.
Today, we don’t have to wait for our magazine subscription to come in the mail, or wait for a commercial break to end to see something on tv. Every young teen and woman has the ability to find models of “beauty” with a few thumb swipes or clicks.
But, this thought of bearing the perfect “image” is nothing less than an idol mentality, which ironically, just as in social media posts, puts a filter over the true meaning of being image-bearers.
How to improve your self-esteem and self-image are hot topics, but we’re being taught to look in the wrong places to find the answers.
Made in the image of God
The truth is, our image does matter, but not as the world tells us.
The Bible tells us we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). What’s so important about this is that we are the only part of creation that God bestowed this blessing. Being made in His image sets us apart from all other aspects of creation, even animals. You can find a great explanation by Got Questions about being made in God’s image.
“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”
Bible verses about image
As 1 Corinthians 15:45-19 states, although we bear the image of the first man (Adam) and his sin, we who are in Christ also bear the image of the second Adam (Christ). We are new creations in Christ and what He calls us to put on as we walk in newness of life is important (Colossians 3; Ephesians 4:24).
The fact that we are seen as righteous before God is important (Romans 5:19). The amazing truth that God knit us together in our mother’s womb, perfectly made to look exactly the way He wanted us to look is important (Psalm 139:13-14).
The world’s beauty standards for our lives are not important.
Do not be deceived, dear sister, in thinking that we need to look a certain way to be justified. There is nothing wrong with having a nice wardrobe, wearing makeup, and taking care of your physical appearance. Please hear me and do not misunderstand.
The problem starts when we become so obsessed with our looks that we think our value and worth are bound up in them.
If we are “so beautiful,” we are more valuable. If we think we don’t measure up to the world’s standard for beauty, we’re less valuable.
When we believe these lies, we’re putting more stock in how He made us, as opposed to our Maker, Himself. We are the clay questioning the potter (Isaiah 45:9), all because the world tells us that perhaps we aren’t good enough.
Let it be known that the world holds no greater wisdom than God. He knew what He was doing when He made each of us. Let’s stop focusing so much on our self-image and instead marvel at our God-image.
Lie #7: You’re justified by the number of your social media followers.
The end result of being justified is peace. We think we can find peace in having a lot of people following us, peering into our lives, and “liking” the things we do. The world will tell us this is a great way to have a plethora of people thinking of you and caring about you.
Unfortunately, this is a form of craving worship and idolization.
“ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Comb through the Gospels and find all of the times it says that many who heard and saw Jesus stopped what they were doing to immediately follow Him. Then, find the many times Jesus specifically calls people to follow Him. I don’t recall a time when Jesus paused His ministry, asked where someone else was going (from a standpoint of their philosophy or ministry), and said He would follow him.
Justified by Faith
We are justified by our faith (Galatians 2:16, 3:24; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 11), not by our followers. We can aspire to be the next top social media influencer, but what is our platform? What are we trying to influence others to do?
Can you share the love of Christ while building a social platform doing makeup tutorials? Yes. While sharing helpful DIY videos or cooking tutorials? Of course.
None of these platforms are bad. And, if you’re putting out helpful content that blesses people, then organically you’ll gain social followers. Again, please don’t misunderstand me.
With all of these Lies, what we’re talking about is your heart attitude. Your motivation. Your reason for doing these things.
Check that first before journeying down any road that might tempt you to make your knowledge and social media following your main objective, for that is the moment the shiny object hops on the shelf of our hearts.
Lie #8: Your finances save you.
I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that idol worship can undoubtedly include the love of money.
The trouble with money doesn’t come when we have a lot– there is nothing wrong with wealth if the Lord chooses to bless you in that way. We see many examples of Old Testament saints who had wealth, such as Job.
The problem with money also doesn’t come when we have a little. Living in poverty or being poor does not mean you have any less faith than someone with money.
No, the trouble begins when we look to our finances to be our savior.
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you.”
Our money will come and go. Our money is temporary. But, as the verse above says, God will never leave us. Christ is our savior.
God’s Provision
Several years ago I was wrestling with the decision of whether or not to be a stay-at-home mom. I struggled with leaving work because I didn’t think our finances could handle it. Even though I knew the Lord was calling me to stay home, I held onto the false belief that my monetary contribution to our family was greater than what God could do for us on one income.
Deep in my heart, I didn’t truly believe that He could provide. I didn’t truly believe that He was and is in fact, Jehovah Jireh.
After much prayer and encouragement from those who’d walked through the same situation earlier in life, I decided to leave my job and stay home.
And guess what? We went broke and became homeless.
KIDDING!!! Totally kidding!
No, God provided. Of course, He provided. He wouldn’t have called me to stay home if He didn’t already have plans to provide for us.
But we think crazy thoughts like that sometimes, don’t we? We think, There’s no way I could take that step, move to this place, take this lower-paying job, or go into full-time ministry… Or, we think, If only I had more money, then I’d be able to do…. or go… or live this way…
When we live in fear of how our lives will turn out due to our lack of money, or when we place all of our hopes and dreams in the aspiration of what having more money could do for us– we have made our finances an idol.
jehovah jireh
We need to know, remember, and believe that the Lord will provide. We need to bask in the truth of God’s provision. God is the only one who supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), and the Bible tells us that that’s exactly what He will do.
Our trust needs to be in Him, not our next paycheck. Not in our IRA. Not in our next promotion.
We are much more valuable to Him than the ravens (Luke 12:24) and He supplies all they need. Will He not do even more for His beloved?
Lie #9: People-pleasing is the only way to go.
According to Verywell Mind, people-pleasing generally involves people “feeling overly concerned with pleasing others and earning their approval as a way to maintain relationships.”
Although people-pleasers are seen as extremely helpful, kind, and giving– oftentimes, the underlying motivation in doing so is to gain the affection of others with the ultimate goal of gaining their approval. Their motive is to seek validation.
Even though they appear to have a humble attitude, it’s actually a form of pride.
how are we called to serve others?
Jesus calls us to be servants (Matthew 23:11), but in that serving, we need to operate under godly wisdom and discretion in how and when we serve.
As we see in the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), we need to know when we should be wholeheartedly giving of ourselves in serving others, and when we need to attend to our own spiritual needs. There is a fine line to tread.
The bottom line is that Jesus doesn’t call us to be all things to everyone at all times. That is His job. Just because we are capable of doing something, doesn’t mean we should.
Before committing our time and energy to fill a need, we should seek counsel from the Lord. We can pray and ask Him if this is something He’s calling us to do at that moment. He may have a greater need He needs us to fill elsewhere. Or, like Martha, maybe He’d rather just have us sit at His feet.
Are you number one or do you even matter at all?
What’s interesting is the extreme that exists between this lie and Lie #1: You are number one. If we aren’t supposed to be thinking of ourselves first, then we are to be thinking of everyone else first.
Either you’re the only one who matters, or you don’t matter at all.
This is one reason why we need to be so in tune with what the Word of God says. We can be easily swayed between these two opposing mindsets, living a very confused life. But God is not the God of confusion. He does not create dichotomies for us to sift through so we can find the true meaning of life for ourselves. He gives clear instructions on the most important things we need to know.
Lie #10: I am entitled to something.
Dictionary.com defines entitled as “having a right or legitimate claim to something; assuming or acting as though one has an innate right or claim to wealth, success, recognition, etc.”
We’ve become individuals who believe we are entitled to something; or maybe, everything. This sense of entitlement makes us place ourselves on a pedestal, believing the lie that we deserve all good things, all the time. Everyone receives a trophy, bad things shouldn’t happen to us, and we should get what we deserve (say it again, all good things).
But where in the Bible does it say this?
If we look at the life of Job, we see someone who could have easily had a sense of entitlement. He was upright and blameless before God (Job 1:1), and did in fact have many nice things. But, even when all he had was stripped away, he still held onto the truth that we should expect the good in life and the bad (Job 2:10).
Grace and Mercy Abound
From one perspective, we are only deserving of death. All have sinned (Romans 3:23). From another perspective, in Christ, we have an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11-14).
So is it one or the other, or both?
Yes.
Since Christ stepped in to take our place and took on the punishment we all deserved when He died on the cross, the death we deserved is no longer ours to reckon with (for all who believe in Him). Christ took care of that for us. And, although we truly deserve nothing because we aren’t perfect, still wrestle with sin, and at times are disobedient against God– in Christ, we receive everything. We have an inheritance sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
This is called grace, sister.
Entitlement mentality
Yet, this isn’t what the world tells us about entitlement. The world’s entitlement tells us that we only deserve what is good, based on… well, not much at all. Just that we all deserve good. Only good. All the time.
If you’re a good person, you should receive only good. If you’re a bad person, you should receive only bad. And, since most people don’t consider themselves bad people, most people believe they are entitled to money, fame, wealth, ease, and success.
We are not entitled to anything. By the grace of God and by His mercy, we do receive many things we don’t deserve. And, for those of us in Christ, yes, the Lord showers us with many blessings. But, we still can expect the bad, because tribulation is promised in this world (John 16:33).
Sister, don’t be deceived by the world’s definition of entitlement. Thank God for the good he bestows upon us, all the while remembering that it’s only because of His mercy, grace, and Christ’s sacrifice that we receive it.
What is Idolatry?
Idolatry happens when we allow something– anything– to take the place of God in our hearts.
The lies we believe about idols are popular-thought. Unfortunately, we’ve become a culture that can easily be deceived by these lies, and for Christians, we can’t let that be so.
Idolatry comes in so many shapes and forms. Some forms of idolatry are obvious, and some, as we discussed with many of these heart attitudes, sneak in when we’re not looking.
Be aware of what the Word says about all of these issues. There’s much more to learn than what I’ve shared in this 2-part series. And, I’m sure you can think of many more things that we can allow to become our idols.
I encourage you, sister, to be diligent to stay in the Word. Ask the Lord to guard your heart against these idols. Put up the roadblocks, set up a blockade, or build a wall– whatever you need to do to stop them from infiltrating your life. Give the King of kings His rightful place on the throne of your heart.
