We tend to think that “idolatry” means someone bowing down to a statue and praying to it in a shrine. It’s really easy to dismiss that practice as not even remotely a temptation to us today in our culture and to discount everything the Bible says about idolatry as being irrelevant to us. Big mistake! Idolatry was the most offensive sin that God’s people committed against Him in the Old Testament times and it is our most offensive sin against God today, too.
“The human heart is an idol factory.” – John Calvin
I don’t know if y’all realize this – but happiness is one of the biggest idols in our culture today.
An idol is anything we put above Christ in our hearts. It is something we worship, are desperate to have, will give anything to try to obtain, will sin in order to get, will give up lots of money and time to pursue, will sacrifice all other relationships for and believe we can’t live without. If we are desperate for something/someone, are terrified to go without that thing/person and are willing to sacrifice anything to have it – and that thing is not Jesus – it is time to do a very deep spiritual evaluation of our motives.
OTHER IDOLS OFTEN COME WITH THE IDOL OF HAPPINESS
As we idolize happiness, it has been my observation that we also tend to idolize self, feelings, romance and control (having our way). This leads us to pride, self-righteousness, disrespect, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, ungratefulness, discontentment, arguing, gossip, slander, complaining and all kinds of other sin. When we are involved in idolatry of any kind, we tend to trust our own wisdom instead of God. We tend to focus on “ME” instead of obedience to God and dying to self. We easily rationalize and justify our own sin in order to get what we really want – HAPPINESS! All the time! We want what we want when we want it. God becomes more and more distant. We won’t let anyone get in our way of us getting what we want. If we hurt someone else in the process, oh well … we need to be happy.
As long as we are happy right now this moment, that’s all that matters in the universe, right?
Do we ever stop to realize – this is the mentality of a two year old? I had this mentality for a long time, myself. When God finally showed me just how sinful my attitude and my motives were, I was MORTIFIED! I spent weeks on my face before God repenting of all the sin He revealed to me. This is NOT the mentality of a spiritually mature, godly woman! We have unknowingly absorbed some of the most ungodly messages ever from our hedonistic, humanistic, secular culture!
The scariest thing to me is that I didn’t even see my own sin. Not at all – for many, many years.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY HAPPINESS AND EMOTIONS?
Sadly, as we idolize our own temporary happiness, we also tend to make other people responsible for our emotions and happiness instead of taking responsibility for our own emotions and spiritual well-being. Here are a few questions for us to ponder:
- What if a man is NOT responsible for my happiness?
- What if each person is responsible for himself/herself emotionally and spiritually
- What if my circumstances are tools in God’s hands to help me grow and mature spiritually (James 1, I Peter)?
- What if my circumstances are a test to see how I will respond and if I will respond without sin and with the power of God living in me?
- What if only Christ Jesus can give me real contentment, peace and joy and things/people of this world can never bring me true satisfaction?
- What if I am expecting a career, money, beauty, fame, health, a wonderful house, a fancy car, being a certain size, a boyfriend, a wedding, marriage, children or something else in this world to meet needs in my life that only Jesus can actually fulfill and satisfy?
- What if I can have contentment right now in Christ no matter what my situation may be?
What if my temporary happiness is not God’s biggest goal in my life?
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
As believers in Christ, we can see clearly in the Bible that:
Happiness is not the greatest and most ultimate goal in life, our knowing God is the greatest goal and our becoming holy and more like Jesus, being totally submitted to Him, obeying Him, loving Him and bringing great honor and glory to Him are to be the ultimate goals in our lives (John 17, Matthew 22:38-39, John 14:22-24).
The amazing thing is, as we focus on obeying and loving God and others with all our hearts, and as we fully yield ourselves in total submission to Him, He fills our souls with His Spirit – and the results ALWAYS are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:19).
Paradoxically, when we seek God first, He blesses us with real joy and supernatural peace that are so much more fulfilling than any temporary happiness that this world or anything in it could ever offer.
We CAN choose to be content as we focus on being thankful, focus on the good and the blessings God has given us and as we allow Christ to empower us.
- Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18
- Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
- I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11b-13
FROM A PRECIOUS WIFE:
I bought the lie and worshiped it for so long, never bothering to notice how the more I pursued happiness, the harder it was to attain. I find it is much easier to simply be content with what God has given you and where He has placed you…..to find and celebrate His goodness and blessings every single day.
As I practice contentment, I experience happiness.
Isn’t that interesting? I spent so many years chasing happiness, instead of being content, I failed to enjoy the blessings God had given me and missed out on so much. I know for a fact, it was this attitude that led to the breakup of my first marriage. Make no mistake…
Seeking your own happiness will eventually hurt everyone around you.
My heart breaks for the hurt I caused my daughter and first husband, but I know that God is changing me and I trust Him with that process and the healing He is bringing to all I have hurt in the past.
I was just talking with one of my friends yesterday about the idol of self. It’s so easy to slip into that mode of worshiping self and doing whatever self tells us will make us happy. My theory is that it’s a natural human, survival mechanism…..maybe something that we’ve been stuck with since we we tossed out of the garden of Eden and had to fend for ourselves in a rough world? (From Peacefulwife – this is our sinful nature!) Even then, in God’s infinite grace and love, He is there for us…..He fights the battles for us when we can’t do it. All He wants is for us to give it to Him and let Him do it. I think sometimes, He allows difficult situations in our lives so we will give up and give it to Him. That’s how he strengthens our faith.
LA
September 27, 2014
April,
May I just tell you how hard this submission thing is?!?!
I’m going to share a story…. (Sometimes when I say recently I mean within a couple of years. This was YESTERDAY!) My pastor and I have talked about getting me tshirts to wear on Sunday. I lead kids church and we are active. He has asked my opinion on colors, type, etc. He sent me a proof yesterday that I didn’t like. I asked if the front could be blank and logo on back. He said that the front couldn’t be blank and that he could put a smaller logo on the front pocket. I got got sassy and said, “well, then don’t waste your money because I won’t wear it”. He asked me why I had such a bad attitude (I said it with full attitude in my tone). My immediate thought was, me? I have a bad attitude??? No, he wouldn’t even listen to why I didn’t like a logo on the front, and it was a solid reason. Keep in mind we are talking about a shirt and he was not asking me to wear anything inappropriate or vulgar. In fact, he had changed the design 2 times based on my opinion. I was ready to tell him how a leader should at least listen to ideas and not be closed minded. I felt the Holy Spirit prick my heart and impress on my heart, “so, yea, about that submissive heart…”. I could hear you in your video saying that you would not held accountable for what your husband says or does to provoke you, but only how YOU respond. Yikes!! Needless to say, I had to apologize quickly.
Oh, but my sin isn’t finished there. My first thought was God, I am hormonal and if I had a husband I could have asked him if I was being irrational. So, I pulled one worse than Eve. I was not placing blame on satan, I was blaming God for MY sin. I was immediately convicted and shut myself off and had to seek forgiveness and a major change of heart.
Sigh…. I desperately long to be Christ-like, but boy oh boy, submission is tough. My nature wanted my way, but more so felt I needed to demand to be heard. That’s a tough pill to swallow when you reliaze how far your missed the mark.
This girl has a long way to go. I am so thankful for your site and know that the Holy Spirit is using you mightily!!
Much love!!!
LA
September 27, 2014
Oh, and I should add that we have been friends for years. We grew up together and we were best friends for many years. So, it made it easier for me justify my sin. I would never speak to most ppl that way, and I think that just makes it worse. I can see how it would be so easy to respect people in the outside world, and then come home to a husband and act totally different. I am not justifying that; I just can understand it more. Sin is such a tricky thing and so deceptive in our hearts. We can justify anything we want, but wow, the Holy Spirit will NOT let you get away with it. Thank goodness!!!
Peacefulwife
September 27, 2014
LA,
Yep.
Respect was actually not a problem for me before Greg and I got married. I am sure I was not the best at it since I didn’t have any clue what it was. But we didn’t really have issues until right before we got married and things began to not go my way for the first time in my life. My reaction to that was not pretty. Not at all. But I didn’t wake up to it for 14.5 years. Ugh.
The Holy Spirit will not let you get away with it if you are listening to Him. But if you harden your heart for many years, you don’t even hear His voice. 😦 How awful is that!
Submission to God-given authorities is hard. And the more familiar you are with someone, the easier it can be to stand up to them and give them a piece of your mind. The dynamics change completely in marriage, too. Suddenly, you are actually depending on this man and you are sharing finances and a home and his actions and decisions profoundly impact you. When he makes decisions you disagree with – it is NOT natural to submit. It is natural to fight for what you want and to become contentious.
I think this is a really great example about submission in a non-marriage relationship. Thank you very much for sharing! This is the process of sanctification! It is painful -but very worth it.
Sending you a huge hug, my precious sister!