Isaiah 44:8-9

You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one! How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.

Isaiah has a great deal to say about idols. He laughs at the sheer stupidity of those who spent their time carving idols out of blocks of wood. Some of the wood would be used for burning in order to keep everyone warm and to bake bread or cook a meal, and another part of the wood was then carefully shaped into an idol to be worshipped. Could anything be more foolish? Isaiah reminds his hearers that they have one true God who is a Rock and who alone is worthy of worship. Worshipping anyone or anything else is a complete waste of time.

Our society is full of idols. They are not often carved out of wood, but they are just as real because an idol is anything that is put in the place that is rightfully God’s. A car, house, career, family, sport, hobby or anything at all can be an idol if it becomes the focus of our attention and if we give it priority in our lives. None of these things is bad in themselves, but when they force God out of His number one spot, they become idolatrous and destructive.

What matters above anything else is that we give God the first place in our lives and encourage others to do the same. We are witnesses to a God of love who longs to fill everyone with His life, so we need to warn other people that anyone or anything else will be a complete waste of their time.

Question

What seem to be the most attractive idols to the people that you know?

Prayer

God, You are my Rock. I worship You because You are worthy of my praise. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit as I put You first in my life and encourage others to do the same. Amen