Idols start so grandiose. They seem so big and consuming. But the more you break them down into the granular details they start to lose their mystery and allure. As you consider the details of an idol you’ll start to wonder, I give my life to that? That controls me? I spend all my money on that? Are you serious? It’s silly. It’s weird. And you’d never do it.. but you do. And I do. We do all.
Here are some idols we didn’t get to in our sermon. (Find that sermon HERE).
FAME
Sports and athletes make a lot of money and get a lot of attention. The best players in the world practice the most basic movements and skills every single day. The fundamentals. Yes, bouncing an orange ball on a hardwood floor helps you earn millions of dollars a year. Yes, swinging a wooded stick or catching a ball can also lead to much fame.
This was one of my main sources of identity growing up. It’s how I was known in the community and a little bit in the news. I remember learning how to play Wide Receiver and my coach making me practice running in a straight line (while turning your head to catch a ball). Anyone could run in a straight line! But even all state athletes need to do this most basic skill.
We put so much stock in fame and skill when it comes to sports but when you break it down to the most basic fundamentals… it’s just some people running on a painted field of grass!
HOARDING/COLLECTING
Some people love their collections. And sure, they know the stamps are just paper and ink and a designer put it together. The value is not in the material itself, it’s more in the concept of it all. Some people just keep stuff. Lots of stuff. It’s stuff.
Jewelry is a similar thing. Now the material might be more valuable for whatever reason, but it’s still just a metal crafted by someone’s hand. Formed and shaped into something that looks pleasing to the eye.
CLOTHING/APPEARANCE
Many people put on the right outside appearance to find value and worth. Sometimes it’s the material, or the designer, for others it’s the hot style or the trendy fashion. Other people spend thousands of dollars on procedures to get their body looking just the the way they want.
I remember getting fitted for my tuxedo for my wedding. The tux was great! It looked great. But I rented it. The whole process of getting it to fit right. From the measurements to selecting the way it fits. It makes a big visual impact, but the details that you go through to get it just right are crazy.
That’s the tuxedo, now do that for a wedding dress!
CONCLUSION
When we break down our idols it takes away the mystery. When the mystery is taken away it helps us see the stupidity of it all. I gave my life for that? I spent all my money on that? I thought that was going to help me in my time of need!?
We struggle with relationships… like relationships are some mysterious concept that is hard to understand. But when we look at it like, I haven’t called my friend in 3 months, no wonder we’ve drifted apart, it makes more sense.
Or, we can’t wait for the thing we ordered on amazon yesterday to come in the mail today. It’s the plastic, shiny, big thing in a cardboard box that gets dropped off by the delivery man that is going to make my day better! ….Yeah, right!
Why would you run to a piece of wood that you just used to make a fire to cook your food?
It’s crazy, the fact that you work hard making the idol to be more than it is makes you need to eat or find some energy from it. It’s wearing you out.
Will you question like Isaiah 44:20 says… is this idol that I’m holding in my hand (close to my heart) a lie?
Isaiah 44:20 …. “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”