If there’s one thing that marks the modern Western world, I’d have to say it’s the sheer volume and variety of our available idols. In ancient days all they had were a few golden calves and those were probably rather expensive.
Today we have the usual suspects, sex, drugs, alcohol, plus entertainment, hoarding, porn, the internet, the news, relationships, people, exercise, food, shopping, shoes, coffee…..
Lions and tigers, oh my…..
I jest a bit here, but really in my mind an idol is anything that comes between us and God, anything we reach for when we should really be reaching for Him. Some of those idols are neither good or bad, what makes them idols is the role they play in our lives, the value we assign them, the relationship we have with them.
I often joke about my coffee idolatry and that stems from living in a very secular area. Once during a funeral, absent the Lord, I was unable to do anything, unable to offer people what they really needed, powerless to do anything but say, “I’ll make coffee.” I love coffee, but as a substitute for the peace and comfort of the Lord, it is one sad and pathetic cup of boiled bean water.
I’ve been to many secular weddings too, where the Lord is also absent, and without the joy of the Lord, people just try to pour everything they can into that void, often a lot of alcohol tinged with fear, cynicism, and bitterness.
I believe God is quite understanding and merciful, He gets it when we reach for a latte and a blanket and curl up in a fetal position, when we really should be reaching for Him. Everybody probably reaches for creature comforts at some point when what we really need is the Lord. Conversely however, I think He’s also quite serious about the dangers of idols, about the need for us to look to Him above and beyond anything else.
Above and beyond anything else, and that can be a tricky one, because I must always remember to put Him before my husband, before my kid’s even. I’ve wrestled with that a few times, kid’s always comes first, right? That’s actually unhealthy for everybody.
As I’ve said, it’s very secular here, so it’s somewhat rare that in times of trouble someone will say, let’s all just stop what we’re doing and pray. When it does happen however, that is such a blessing, such a moment of transformation, it just changes everything.
Reach out for the Lord first, than reach for a cup of coffee. I know, first world problems for sure, but there is truth there.
See, there's this thing called biology... 
That last joke was hilarious. You’re right about idols, and them getting in our way with God. Many people these days, worship Hollywood stars, singers, and sports figures. It’s unhealthy. I could write a book, about the insanity with the Kardashians.
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I love it, IB. I’m a coffee fan myself, enjoying mine right now. I do so appreciate your posts. Sanity in an insane world.
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So true about idols and they really can be something seemingly innocent like a coffee, or exercise or even reading.
I do love my coffee though too and that meme was great!
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Actually, in Antiquity, there were as many idols as there were cities and animals.
That means there were many, many, many idols.
In the West, the major and supreme idol is one’s self.
The Catholic Church warned the world about that over half a century ago at the Second Vatican Council.
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Got me on the coffee!
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I have heard it summed up that whatever you spend your most time and money on is your “God”. And also I will add that certain Christian commit idolatry with a fictitious Jesus/God that actually does not exist Biblically. I have seen some people come up with some blasphemous heretical doctrine that suits what they personally picture Jesus as. That’s a HUGE source of idolatry today.
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Indeed,there is some huge, blasphemous, heretical, idolatrous rubbish happening under the guise of faith right now. I think that truth presses on a whole lot of Christians who have the eyes to see it.
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They have created a “Jesus” that they worship…that’s not Jesus. I pray all the time because I am scared on how subtly I have seen our Doctrine being replaced by just downright lies.
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I hear you. That can get really scary. Or, at least I find it rather scary when the bible is being replaced by downright lies. Many Christians understand how subtle that can be sometimes, which is why all the best pastors will tell you “turn to your bible,” or read the passage yourself. We’re living in interesting times, that’s for sure.
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You said we should reach out for the Lord first and then reach for a cup of coffee. I start each day be reading the Bible but I find it is easier to do this if a make a cup of coffee first to wake me up.
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LOL! You are forgiven, I’m sure. The Lord is aware I am pretty much useless without coffee, too. 🙂
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God gave us coffee so we could reach for Him in the morning. 🙂
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My preferred beverage is tea.
We have so many idols it helps to categorize them. The best category list I have heard is stuff, sex, state, and self. Coffee and tea fits under sex, I think. When set before God, coffee, tea, various other drugs, and alcohol become the worship of pleasure.
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