Knowing and Enjoying God 14

We thwart our quest in realizing fellowship with God by worshipping at the idols of materialism, success, status, and need for security. Nothing wrong with having material things or success, or status, or security if it is not the goal of our life. Idolatry can be so subtle. Paraphrasing Frederick Buechner, Gluttony is raiding the refrigerator for a cure for spiritual malnutrition. Idolatry is raiding the refrigerator of materialism in quest of a cure for the need to feel successful or significant in others' eyes. Idolatry is raiding the refrigerator of dependency / co-dependency in the search for a sense of security through human relationships.

There is a better way.
Success - Joshua 1:8 says meditate on the Word, do what it says and you’ll be successful. God wants us to be successful. But are we seeking Him or are we seeking success? Success idolatry thwarts our quest for knowing God.

Status – Psalms tells us that God promotes one and deposes another. Seek God.
Leave the status placement up to Him and thus avoid status idolatry.

Security – There is no real security in the world. Our only hope for ultimate security is trusting in the God who says, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.” And “I’ll meet all your needs.”

I see two very subtle idols that smudge our vision of God, that obscures our knowing and enjoying Him – doctrine and relationships. I was in the Presbyterian church for 23 years. Doctrine seemed to be the preeminent focus. They tended to seek a purity in the reformed doctrine that so often came across prideful. “Our doctrine is the only way.” And yet even in the PCA there were factions that claimed that their interpretation of reformed doctrine was best and others wrong.

This is true also in the Holiness movement. “We’re right. Reformed is wrong.” Prideful idolatry, in my opinion. Am I suggesting we downplay the study of doctrine? YES, if it leads to a pride trip that obstructs worship, obedience and developing intimacy with God.

The other subtle concern is people looking to others to meet needs that only God can meet. It has been said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man that can not be filled by any created thing but only by the creator.” Husbands and wives are instructed in Scripture to meet each other’s needs; however, in our imperfection we let each other down. Having a great loving marriage with a primary focus on developing intimacy with God is the best of both “worlds.”

Bottom line in knowing God: you and I will only really grow in fellowship with Him by the regular discipline of spending time with Him. Accountability with others expedites that discipline. Consider reading and meditating on Isaiah chapters 40-44 this week.