Practice makes problems....

"They worshipped worthless idols and became worthless themselves..."
Jeremiah 2:5

The truth is, I have a lot of practice in idolatry and therefore am great at making things idols.
I have spent most of my life worshipping myself--in the many forms in which self worship comes-- pursuing beauty, intelligence, comfort, and more than anything acceptance. None of these things are bad in themselves--after all, God made them-- but put them before God and they are idols. They are not "little idols" or "barely idols" or "everyone has them so they're ok...idols". They are idols, of which God says:

"you shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God"
-Exodus 20:5

The problem is....I have soooo much practice in idolatry and practice truly does make perfect...or in this case, problems. I make the very best things in my life idols... and as long as God continues to love me, he will continue to destroy these things until I turn back to him, every time.
So the question is...when will I stop making the good gifts God puts in my life idols?
I get a lot of comfort and also fear from the Old Testament on this subject. The Israelites continually pursue idols time and time again, and God absolutely DESTROYS them time and time again for the sole purpose of turning them back to himself. In Jeremiah's letter to the surviving Israelites that God had allowed to be taken captive by the Babylonians for 70 years before the exile was even over he says:

"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you...."
-Jeremiah 29:10-14

The problem with my heart is that usually when I see these verses my first reaction is to look forward to God restoring my "fortunes" and "gather(ing) [me] from all the nations and all the places where [He] has driven [me]" instead of looking forward to a less adulterous heart. I like my idols and I want them back as soon as possible, but

"What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"
-Matthew 16:26

Think God only takes idols serious in the Old Testament?

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple"
-Luke 14:26

"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful"
-Matthew 13:22

-Matthew 16-30 (The rich young man)


Please pray for me and hold me accountable for the idols you see in my life. let me know how I can pray for you.