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A Christmas Tree is Not Idolatry (I Corinthians 10:14)

Idolatry is still happening today, but it looks different from biblical times. In the Old Testament, people built golden calves, erected idols, and dedicated temples to various gods. While idolatry today might not involve physical statues, it is still present in 2024. Israel was unique in that it was monotheistic; it worshipped one God, Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The nations surrounding Israel were polytheistic, worshipping false gods and idols. Israel was called to be holy, set apart, and different because of their commitment to the one true God, the Creator of the entire universe. Standing out and being different is never easy, especially when everyone around you is doing something else. It takes courage to stand on your principles and practices, particularly when others don’t believe in or follow them.

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, run from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:14 KSB 

However, there were times when Israel operated at a lower level of consciousness and conformed to their surroundings. They worshipped idols and false gods. When we operate at a lower level of consciousness, we fall into the same trap. We place people, places, and things before God, and they become our idols. Today, idolatry doesn’t involve golden calves or statues; it’s more subtle. God doesn’t just want to be a part of your life; He desires to be the priority and the center of your life. For many people, God has been part of their lives for a long time, but He has not been the center. The Bible says, “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). So, what does idolatry look like in 2024? It’s the belief, feeling, or statement that you can’t live without someone or something other than God.

Let me tell you: you can live without your husband, but you can’t live without God. You can live without your wife, but you can’t live without God. You can live without your partner, spouse, “boo,” or “bae,” but you cannot live without God. You can live without your children and grandchildren. You can live without that job, car, or house. It might feel rough, but the truth is, “In God we live, move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Without God, we are nothing. Idolatry today happens when we put someone or something first in our lives. Ask yourself: What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Do you pray, or do you reach for your phone? What is the first thing you do when you get paid? Do you give your tithe and offering to honor God, or do you spend it on bills or shopping? When you worship God, you put Him first in your time, treasure, and talents. The first fruits of your life, your time, resources, and energy, belong to God as an act of recognition that He is the source of everything you have. You cannot worship both God and money (Matthew 6:24).

The kingdom of God is a way of being, seeing, thinking, speaking, and behaving where God is at the center. Ask yourself: Who is at the center of your life? Who are you building your life around? I love my family, friends, and community, but they cannot be the center of my life. Only God can hold that place. I might cry, hurt, or grieve if I lose someone or something, but I will still live. The Psalmist declared, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17). God is the only One I can’t live without because He is the source of life itself. Sometimes, idolatry resembles worshipping ourselves, our desires, gratification, pride, prestige, titles, positions, or even spiritual leaders. Whenever we place anything above God, something inevitably reminds us that they are not God. People will fail us. Things will fade. Titles will fall. Only Jehovah, the one true and living God, deserves our worship. Idolatry is not just an issue of the past; it’s alive and well today. It may look different, but the root is the same: placing anyone or anything before God. God alone is worthy of being the priority and center of our lives. He is the One who gives us life, breath, and being. Let us commit to worshipping God alone and putting Him first in every area of our lives.

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