No, we may not bow down to idols made of stone or metal as people did in ancient times (and some people in the world still do). But does that mean we don’t have our own “idols” today — that is, things we serve just as zealously as they did? I’m afraid we do.

Take, for example, our preoccupation with money and material possessions. These aren’t necessarily wrong, of course; we need them to take care of our loved ones and make our lives comfortable. But both can easily become “idols” that we slavishly follow and allow to become the most important things in our lives. Instead of serving God, we serve money and things — and they end up controlling us. But Jesus warned, “No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).

I’m sure you can think of other things that have become like idols to us — things like pleasure, or sex, entertainment, social prestige, beauty, or power. But the real question is this: What “idols” do you serve? What have you allowed to take the place in your life that belongs only to God? The Bible says, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don’t be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do.