What is your idol?

I read the One Year Chronological Bible in the morning. The subtitle is 'The entire text of the NIV in 365 daily readings arranged in the order the events actually occurred.' I prefer this because it combines the repetition of OT portions with a historical overview.

This morning Deuteronomy has the children of Israel poised to occupy God's promised land. Moses, their elder leader, is recounting all that God has done since they fled Egypt, wandered 40 years in the desert and tasted initial victory over two kings east of the Jordan.

In the first chapters, Moses warns them of the consequences of disobedience as they move west. The jealousy of God and following idolatry speaks volumes for them and us. The warning is clear in the first of the Ten Commandments; "You shall have no other gods before (besides) me." Dt 5:7

At the heart of each of us lies the urge to set up our own kingdom and our own idols which we worship.  Just when I think I am doing great in my personal relationships and am about to give myself the proverbial pat on the back, my idol rears its ugly head. You have a problem, I can fix it for you. It's a very ugly idol.

First, because only God knows the heart of a person, I misjudge their motives. As I move in to fix them, I am helping on the basis of bad intel...because I really don't know. God knows them completely.

Second, trying to fix another person attempts to set myself up as God in their life. Bad idea because God is God and I am not.

I mean well. I genuinely care about my friends. Yet God cares more to stop me and to correct my belief about Who really knows how to fix people. Not me! Only God!

I demolish that fix-it idol by turning to God, His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit for wisdom from on high.  And I keep my mouth shut, love my friend and pray that they would encounter God in their trials.

What's your idol of choice?

Grateful for you dear reader,
Nancy B