IDOLATRY

I Corinthians 10:1-14

THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF IDOLATRY:

1. Outward idolatry—the bowing before an image. 

Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

    2. Inward idolatry—which is called covetousness. 

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

“Covetousness” is an excessive desire for worldly gain that distracts us from God.

This inward idolatry is demonstrated and seen:

1.  In an excessive love for pleasure. 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

A. This is a pleasure mad world.  Sports and recreation are dominating the time of millions.  Valuable time and money could be used for the spreading of the Gospel.

B. Camping, golfing, fishing, hunting, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, ice skating, boating, swimming, and many many more dominate our society.

2.  In an excessive love for worldly applause

John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

              A.  So much is done in order to get recognition in the paper, radio, or television.  Many are looking for words of praise and popularity.

3.  In an excessive worldly pre-occupation. Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

A.  Multitudes who name the name of Christ are so pre-occupied with trying to make a living that they take their mind off of the Lord.  Their jobs and living come  between them and God.  This is idolatry.

4. In an excessive desire for personal comfort.

A.  Multitudes have lost the sight of those who are without Christ and on their way to hell because of their concern for their own personal comfort.  A roof over their head, food to eat, clothes to wear, and cars to drive have come between them and God’s work.

5.  In giving to Caesar what belongs to God.  Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

A.  Tithing is taught from the Word of God.  Taxes are taken out of the paycheck from the top.  There is no choice concerning this whether we want to or not or if we can afford it.  When we put God last and only if we have enough left, we commit spiritual or inward idolatry.

6.  In worshiping the creature more than the Creator.  Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

A.  We are living in a day of the worship of nature.  Many hug trees, save owls, weep over whales, kiss dogs and cats and care little about souls hanging in the balance between heaven and hell.

7.  In loving the wages of unrighteousness.  2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

A.  Balaam was an hireling.  He could be bought out. Many today will sell themselves to unrighteousness all in the name of the Lord.  Many, like Balaam, like the  wages of unrighteousness.

B.  Many professors of religion will stand before God and be cast out.  Just because people carry a Bible and go to the House of God regular does not mean they have the goods.  Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

8.  When we dishonor the Lord’s day. Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

A.  When the one day God has made holy is misused and dishonored we have fallen into idolatry.  God and His Word should have and be first in our lives. If we  allow anything to come between us and God, it is an idol.  Jobs have come between God and many in this modern day.

THE LORD LISTS EIGHT POSSIBLE OBJECTS OF IDOLATRY.

 Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

1. Houses.

2. Brethren.

3. Sisters.

4. Father.

5. Mother.

6. Wife.

7. Children.

8. Lands.

There is nothing wrong with loving any or all of these as long as we do not place them above the Lord and allow them to become gods unto us. 

Many have allowed their homes and their lands become gods and therefore, fallen into idolatry.

Others have allowed their family or relatives become gods unto them.  Anything, whether it be persons, places, or things can and will become gods to us if we allow it to.

NOTICE WHAT GOD SAYS:

1. The First Commandment out of the ten commandments.  Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Notice this is the FIRST commandment.  God wants our attention up front.

2. The First and Great Commandment given by the Lord in the New Testament.  Matthew 22:37,38; Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment. If we love the Lord as we are commanded to here, there will not be any room for idols in our life.

3. God is a Jealous God.  Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

4. God demands our worship and our service.  We have no options if we desire to do right.  Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Mark 8:36,37;  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?