Idols of the heart

Ezekiel 14:1-5 (NASB)

Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity.  Should I be consulted by them at all? "Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols, in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols." 

Most of us don’t read much from the book of Ezekiel.  One interesting characterization of the book of Ezekiel is that unlike other prophetic books of the Old Testament that focus on God’s judgment, Ezekiel emphasizes comforting and encouragement of God’s people.

However, chapter 14 contains God’s threat to idolatrous elders of Israel.  The key word in these 5 verses of Ezekiel 14 is the word “idol”.  In Old Testament times, idols were images or statues made of stone or wood, but idols basically referred to any kind of false god.  Idolatry is the worship of anything or anyone other than God.  In verse 3 of Ezekiel 14 God pointed out that these elders of Israel had established “idols in their hearts”.  Of course, God always sees and is more concerned with what is in the inside of man (what he thinks, what his character is, what is his true motivations and desires) rather than the outside of man (I Samuel 16:7).  These elders of Israel would be equivalent to high ranking officials of any organization, but their rank and title and status meant nothing to God, only what was in their hearts.  And He didn’t like what was in their hearts. 

What are “idols of the heart”?  Whatever causes you to hold things more important than faith and obedience to God.  What do you care about more than God?  What do you desire in your life more than being right with God?  What idols do you worship more than God?  Some modern day examples of idols of the heart might include beauty, power, success, money/greed, self-sufficiency, covetousness, addictions, leisure, etc.  Some are acceptable desires to a point, e.g. to be as good looking as you can be, make as much money as you can, enjoy your leisure time as much as possible, but when they become excessive and you focus on those more than focus on the Lord, that’s when they become idols of your heart.

The evil of idolatry is that it causes you to love and worship things that are opposed to God.  Idols in your life keep you from seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the first priority of the life of a Christian (Matt 6:33).  They are the source of sins that so easily entangle you (Heb 12:1-2).  They cause a separation between you and God that keeps Him from answering your prayers.  Name some 'idols of your heart'.  Why do you struggle with these in your life?  Which one do you struggle with the most?   How can you overcome each idol?  Seek help/counseling when you know that you cannot eradicate idols of your heart on your own.