Digging Deeper – Idols of Strength
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Exodus 20:4-6
IDOLS OF STRENGTH
This idol may be the most hideous and damaging of the five idol categories because it is so easy to hide inside of, if not behind.
Strength becomes an idol when we begin to rely on our own strength and power instead of God’s strength and power.
The businessman or businesswoman who climbs the corporate or entrepreneurial ladder quickly and begins to believe in, and bask in, the acknowledgement of peers. The pastor who believes that the sudden growth of their church is due to their preaching, teaching, and administrative skills. The parents who believe they are the reason for their children’s success, discipline, athletic prowess, or grades.
The list is literally endless. Just have success, take credit for it, and now it has become an idol.
For years, I took great pride in how I handled my late wife’s perpetual illness, accepting the heartfelt accolades of people for myself instead of redirecting them to God. And then I fell badly.
Then, because she was limited in what she could do as a mother, I jumped in to become “Super Dad” and took credit for that too whenever people acknowledged it, until I found out that my kids resented me in so many ways.
Strike two.
Slowly, I have learned, as my good friend Terry Cash says, “There is nothing good in me; it is all of Christ!”
Here is a very, VERY limited list of verses to explore that reiterate Terry’s encouragement: 1 Chronicles 16:28; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 29:1 (and this truth is found throughout the Psalms); Isaiah 40:31; Jeremiah 16:19; and Ephesians 6:10.
Look up these passages and be reminded that any strength we possess is from the Lord and nothing else. We cannot even take our next breath without His strength holding our atmosphere together.
So the next time you begin to feel giddy about some accomplishment, take a step back and give God the glory He rightly deserves. Take yourself off the perch and put God back where He belongs.
Ask the Lord this morning to show you where you have taken credit for literally anything, and repent before Him. Be consumed by His forgiveness and comfort. Then be on the lookout for the enemy the next time he tells you how awesome you are.
Pride is Satan’s sin; it does not need to become ours!
Tomorrow we look at the Idol of Relationships (neighbors)!
Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!