Idols

[~Shalhevet~]

I am bringing this topic from another thread I started.

What are idols? Are they celebrities? Politicians? Are they video games? Computers? Are they cigarettes and coffee? If idols are everything that distract us from God, then wouldn't your children and spouse be included? In fact, wouldn't everything in this life be considered an idol? Everything is a distraction.

[2Joyful]

I am bringing this topic from another thread I started.

What are idols? Are they celebrities? Politicians? Are they video games? Computers? Are they cigarettes and coffee? If idols are everything that distract us from God, then wouldn't your children and spouse be included? In fact, wouldn't everything in this life be considered an idol? Everything is a distraction.

Idols- anything you put before God, that you give >extreme> (far from the normal, average, or usual) devotion. If you feel that way about any of the above on your list, then yes it has become an idol. I know that we love our spouse and children, but I know where to draw the line, and I'm sure you do too......... jotful

Edited October 21, 2009 by jotful

[mizzdy]

Anything that replaces God, that sets a road block in your walk, that keeps us from Him, that we look to that represents God to us, those are examples of idols.

[Guest LadyC]

a few years ago, my mother was visiting, and my husband and i were having some major difficulties. i was in a severe depression, and often didn't even want to get out of bed and face the world. in many ways, i felt as if i despised my husband for what he was putting me through. one day my mother said something that i will never forget... she said i needed to get on my knees and start praising God and STOP WORSHIPING MY HUSBAND!

i had never thought of it in that light... worship my husband? heck, i could barely even stand him anymore! but she was right. i was devoting all my time and energy to this man... didn't matter that the energy that i was devoting to him was negative in every way (depression, anger, hurt feelings, etc.) the point was, my thoughts were so focused on my husband that i was totally ignoring God in my life.

yes, it is quite possible for a spouse (or child) to become our idol.

[~Shalhevet~]

a few years ago, my mother was visiting, and my husband and i were having some major difficulties. i was in a severe depression, and often didn't even want to get out of bed and face the world. in many ways, i felt as if i despised my husband for what he was putting me through. one day my mother said something that i will never forget... she said i needed to get on my knees and start praising God and STOP WORSHIPING MY HUSBAND!

i had never thought of it in that light... worship my husband? heck, i could barely even stand him anymore! but she was right. i was devoting all my time and energy to this man... didn't matter that the energy that i was devoting to him was negative in every way (depression, anger, hurt feelings, etc.) the point was, my thoughts were so focused on my husband that i was totally ignoring God in my life.

yes, it is quite possible for a spouse (or child) to become our idol.

I am that way about my son. I am always focused on him. He seeks out a lot of attention from me because he's an only child. What can I do about this though? I can't ignore him?

[OneLight]

Read carefully ... I don't want a flame war starting! An idol is anything you hold in high esteem, whether or not you make a conscience decision to place it before God, no matter who or what it is. If we hold anything in high esteem, we are not really free from it. An example would be a sports star. You may not hold this player higher then God in your life, but you can hold what they teach, whether or not it is by word or action, higher then your parents ideals, then you have an idol, which would also go against Gods will, therefore, without thinking about it, you are placing this idol before God.

Did I loose anyone?

[Guest LadyC]

a few years ago, my mother was visiting, and my husband and i were having some major difficulties. i was in a severe depression, and often didn't even want to get out of bed and face the world. in many ways, i felt as if i despised my husband for what he was putting me through. one day my mother said something that i will never forget... she said i needed to get on my knees and start praising God and STOP WORSHIPING MY HUSBAND!

i had never thought of it in that light... worship my husband? heck, i could barely even stand him anymore! but she was right. i was devoting all my time and energy to this man... didn't matter that the energy that i was devoting to him was negative in every way (depression, anger, hurt feelings, etc.) the point was, my thoughts were so focused on my husband that i was totally ignoring God in my life.

yes, it is quite possible for a spouse (or child) to become our idol.

I am that way about my son. I am always focused on him. He seeks out a lot of attention from me because he's an only child. What can I do about this though? I can't ignore him?

that's a hard question. and i'm not sure how to answer it! with my husband, it came down to really, finally leaving him in God's hands, and not stressing over what he was doing or not doing. but learning to leave him in God's hands took years. i imagine it must be the same thing with a child. you can't cut your son out of your life, but you can learn to put him in God's hands and stay out of God's way while He's trying to work on your kid.

maybe i'll try that with my daughter and let ya know if it works!

[2Joyful]

a few years ago, my mother was visiting, and my husband and i were having some major difficulties. i was in a severe depression, and often didn't even want to get out of bed and face the world. in many ways, i felt as if i despised my husband for what he was putting me through. one day my mother said something that i will never forget... she said i needed to get on my knees and start praising God and STOP WORSHIPING MY HUSBAND!

i had never thought of it in that light... worship my husband? heck, i could barely even stand him anymore! but she was right. i was devoting all my time and energy to this man... didn't matter that the energy that i was devoting to him was negative in every way (depression, anger, hurt feelings, etc.) the point was, my thoughts were so focused on my husband that i was totally ignoring God in my life.

yes, it is quite possible for a spouse (or child) to become our idol.

LadyC, here I was the first to reply, and you blow me out of the water. I'm going through a situration, that has the same signs, (depression, anger, hurt feelings). It was truly a right now word from the Lord, Thanks.

Asecretchord, I just found out I have a idol. God really used you as in the book of 2nd Samuel 12:1-7 to post this topic. And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one ewe lamb, which he had brought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man and he spared to take of his own flock and his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that come to him. And David anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, as the Lord liveth, the man that has done this thing shall surely die: And shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And then Nathan said to David, THOU ART THE MAN.

I have read replies where someone confess that their eyes has been open, simply because of another post. I never thought that I would have to say to myself: Welcome to the club. I'm off the board until tomorrow (the Lord may say longer). I am going to sit at the feet of God. Thanks again, jot

[Blien]

a few years ago, my mother was visiting, and my husband and i were having some major difficulties. i was in a severe depression, and often didn't even want to get out of bed and face the world. in many ways, i felt as if i despised my husband for what he was putting me through. one day my mother said something that i will never forget... she said i needed to get on my knees and start praising God and STOP WORSHIPING MY HUSBAND!

i had never thought of it in that light... worship my husband? heck, i could barely even stand him anymore! but she was right. i was devoting all my time and energy to this man... didn't matter that the energy that i was devoting to him was negative in every way (depression, anger, hurt feelings, etc.) the point was, my thoughts were so focused on my husband that i was totally ignoring God in my life.

yes, it is quite possible for a spouse (or child) to become our idol.

FANTASTIC

[georgedrw81]

Anything that replaces God, that sets a road block in your walk, that keeps us from Him, that we look to that represents God to us, those are examples of idols.

The road blocks appear all the time in different forms

Blessings