No Other Gods

Let me start by saying that I am becoming a big Kelly Minter fan!  I just finished her study on the book of Ruth, and am now beginning her study “No Other Gods.”  She’s a great author, and writes in a way as though I feel like I’m just hanging out with one of my friends.

The first couple days of the study really hit me like a book (I know, my comedy really needs help!).  2 Kings 17:33 says “They worshiped the Lord, but they also serve their own gods.”  I never thought of myself as having “idols” or “false gods.”  I don’t have any statues that I worship, I don’t dream of being like someone famous, and I don’t even follow astrology.  I had always thought of an idol as being a tangible object or person.  But until this study began, I never thought of an idol as being what motivates our actions. 

One thing that sticks out to me in today’s culture is money.  The Bible speaks more about possessions and money than any other topic.  One verse that is a favorite of mine Luke 16:11 - “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”  It reminds me that we will one day be judged by how we choose to use what God has given us here today.  So having this verse in the back of my mind, it’s always been important to me to be financially stable, to be smart with my finances, to save, and not to be controlled by debt.  But one the other hand, I realized that while my reasons behind this might be good, the comfort that I seek is my real motivation.  Which makes me wonder – is it possible to ever be comfortably growing in Christ?

Or maybe what motivates you is not money at all, it could be the desire to gain someone’s respect, the desire to be heard, your career, or to be physically fit.  It could be your kids, your desire to have children, or another relationship entirely. 

Session one ended with a thought – Can you think of anything in your life that is inherently good and right, but that has become detrimental simply because you desire it too much?

If you’d like to join our study of “No Other Gods” it’s not too late.  It begins this Thursday at 6:30pm at the Lake Nona YMCA.  Free childcare is available.  It’s going to be a great time together, so we’d love for you to join us!