What are Idols?

Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God. Instead of looking to Him as the Creator and Sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe.

They soon invent “gods” (idols) that are suitable projections of their own selfish plans and purposes.

Exodus 20:1-4 (New International Version)

And God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods
before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

The Israelites had just come from Egypt, a land of many idols and many gods. Because each god corresponded to a different aspect of life, it was common to worship many gods in order to get the most number of blessings.

When God told His people to worship and believe in Him, that wasn’t so hard for them—He was just one more god to add to the list. But when He said, “Worship only Me,” that was difficult for the people to accept. But if they didn’t learn that the God who led them out of Egypt was the only true God, they could not be His people. Therefore, God made this His first commandment and emphasized it more than the others.

Deuteronomy 27:15 (New King James Version)

Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.

Just as we warn children to stay away from hot stoves and busy streets, God warns us to stay away from dangerous actions. The natural law of His universe makes it clear that wrongdoing toward others or God has tragic consequences. God is merciful enough to tell us this truth plainly. Motivated by love and not anger, His strong words help us avoid the serious consequences that result from neglecting God or wronging others.

Today we can allow many things to become gods to us. Money, fame, work, or pleasure can become gods (idols) when we concentrate too much on them for
personal identity, meaning, and security.

No one sets out with the intention of worshiping these things. But by the amount of time we devote to them, they can grow into gods that ultimately control our thoughts and energies. Unless we remove idols from our life, they can ruin our faith. What idols do we have? An idol is anything we put before God.

Idols don’t have to be physical objects; they can be thoughts or desires. Letting God hold the central place in our lives keeps these things from turning into gods.