The Ten Commandments begin: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol.” Pretty stern, but what exactly is an idol?
Other gods are things we’ve not made, like the sun, moon, angels or people. An idol is something we’ve made, images or art, sport or entertainment, as long as we worship it. By doing so, we’re putting ourselves first.
“But John, I don’t bow down to my football or my TV.” Probably not, but who is your priority? Your team or the Lord? Your programme or church? Who comes first?
By making it ourselves, we are saying to God, “I don’t need you, my ways are better than your ways, my thoughts are greater than your thoughts.” Putting ourselves first.
Yesterday I met a man full of his own importance. “I am not badly informed,” he said, and then ranted against the church, the Bible and our political leaders. For him, his thoughts were greater than the Lord’s. Idolatry.
What about money?
Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon,” and mammon is a spirit. Do we make decisions based on the Lord’s will, or on how much money we have? If money makes the call, it’s in charge! Idolatry again.
Deadly greed
Greed is defined as “a selfish and excessive desire for more than is needed.” James calls it “selfish ambition.” Putting ourselves first again. Idolatry. Here’s the rub:
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person―such a man is an idolater―has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (Ephesians 5:5).
Mahatma Gandhi said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not everyone’s greed.”
Greed consumes at the expense of others. How much do we really need?