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Introduction: Joshua 24:14-18 Everyone loves this text. We love the stand the Joshua took and proclaimed before the people. It is courageous and strong: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
But there is something else in this text we need to see. Israel still had their idols! Consider this, God had led them to conquer the land of Canaan, and they still had their idols! You might wonder how that could be? First, we must not think God was pleased (Ezekiel 20). Second, these idols were little images easily hidden from public view. They could be held in one’s hand and packed away in the luggage when traveling. They were a “back-up plan” just in case God did not provide what they desired.
You might wonder why this second generation of Israelites would do that? We are aware of the rebelliousness of the first generation, but how could these who have conquered the giants of Canaan do that? It is the same reason people have religious trinkets and symbols today. There is a certain comfort, security, and even pleasure in thinking that this “object” is providing a visible image of an invisible desire to have all of one’s inner needs fulfilled. That’s idolatry.
Romans 1:21-27 Paul’s Description of Idolatry
“They did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.” Here is the foundational definition of idolatry. “Honor him as God” indicates a recognition of his preeminence and greatness and therefore the necessity of giving an equivalent service and respect to him. It is the result of truly being thankful and valuing what he has done for you. If we treat him on the level of other responsibilities in life, if he is simply included on our “to do” list, something we get to when we have time, we are not honoring him as God. [example of the priority we give a doctor appointment]
This statement ought to remind us of the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before me.” The idea is that you shall not bring any other gods into my presence or into our relationship. We see this illustrated by the Lord’s use of the word “adultery” when referring to his people serving idols. In a marriage, there is not to be any other relationships that are on the same plane as the relationship with one’s spouse. No one else and nothing else can challenge or be placed before the spouse except God.
(Imagine telling your spouse that you enjoy your secretary so much that you will be eating lunch with her every day – but don’t worry, nothing physical!). To what do we mentally give ourselves?
Now note 1:23. “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for…” Paul used the word “exchanged” three times in this text to describe the giving up of one desire for another. It is giving up the desire for God for another desire. There are a couple considerations here:
No one worships nothing; we only exchange the worship of God for the worship of something else. This is where those who think themselves wise become fools. You didn’t stop worshiping. You still have a god; it is just not the eternal God. Further, when we do not honor God as God, we will honor endless numbers of gods.
The exchange is from that which is immortal, everlasting, and will not fade away, to that which is mortal, temporary, and will return to dust. It is truly a foolish exchange. Consider sins that tend to be repetitive in our lives. These desires keep failing us because even in the short term they fail to satisfy us, hoping the temporary “high” will remain. Only God is the all satisfying object.
Then 1:24, “God gave them up to lusts…” 1:26 repeats in this way, “God gave them up to dishonorable passions…” Now we have a complete picture of idolatry. There is an exchange of passions from God and that which is eternal, to the earthly and that which is temporary.
Therefore, when we reexamine the examples of rejected disciples, we see illustrations of how disciples under various circumstances created their own god, made the exchange between the true God and their god, but still claimed to be worshiping the true God.
The Ephesus church: Jesus isn’t their first love. It doesn’t matter that they are doctrinally sound.
The Sardis Christians are no longer live as vibrant because they have made the “exchange” to their own interests. Same with Laodicea.
The one-talent man, what was he doing? He is not using what the Lord gave him for the Lord. He is off following other passions.
What were the five foolish virgins doing instead of buying enough oil to light the way for the bridegroom? What was so important that they didn’t make that preparation? You see, when the time came they didn’t want to be left out, but beforehand they were messing around doing what they wanted to do. Their passion wasn’t for the bridegroom!
Who or What Makes Us Complete?
Conquering idolatry answers this question. Idolatry is not just practicing immorality. When Eve sinned in the Garden, idolatry was the root sin. She was deceived into believing that God’s provisions were incomplete, that God had been selfish, and therefore she needed to pursue fulfillment outside of God. We do the same when we sin, or even when we are not content and feel like we have to have something or buy something or experience something that will somehow solve the emptiness within. We convince ourselves that if we make God our one and only passion, he will disappoint us, and we will be left unfulfilled and empty. In other words, we are not content with the blessings God has given and are unwilling to trust and wait on the Lord.
Consider the words of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 states, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
The text urges us to be content with what God gives, whether little or much, because God is our joy and only he can give enjoyment. Enjoyment simply isn’t discovered beyond God.
Therefore, only with God can one find enjoyment even in the simplest things of life. To wait on the Lord means that we allow God to provide for us at the proper time and in the proper way. We do not need to supplement him with little idols tucked away in our inner room. In other words, when our passion is for God and not the things of this life, then we escape vanity. (Cf. Matt. 16:25).
With that as a foundation, Eccl. 9:7-10 helps us prioritize:
The text starts with being approved of God. Since God is first in his life, he is able to eat and drink with a merry heart. He keeps his life pure (white garments) and he is optimistic and joyful (oil not lacking).
His next priority is his relationship with his wife. He doesn’t attempt to enjoy life apart from her, but with her. His relationship with her is critical because she is part of the special gifts God has given. Further, loving her deeply and passionately is a result of his passion for God.
Though children are not specifically mentioned, children are part of marriage and would certainly be the next priority. Raising godly children glorifies God.
Finally, there is “what your hand finds to do,” which would include one’s career as well as one’s service to his fellow man. Again, career and ministry to others is done “with one’s might” because we first have a passion for God and want to glorify Him in what we do.
We would summarize our priorities by a type of pie chart in which God is at the center with marriage, children, career, and ministry radiating out from our passion for God.
When idolatry takes place, God is moved out from the center and one of the others exchanges places with Him. For example, enjoyment may be placed at the center and God only becomes a piece of the pie. God is “served,” but enjoyment is the passion from which all else radiates.
Or, children may be placed at the center, which not only relegates God to a subservient place, but also places one’s marriage on the back burner. This is common today because parents are often living through the successes of their children whether in sports, education, music, or other hobbies. Children have become our idols when their recreational activities are at the center of the home.
Conclusion: Let’s go back to Joshua’s challenge: “Choose this day whom you will serve…” Israel said that they would serve the Lord, but Joshua’s reply was, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”
Now consider the cold, hard facts. Israel promised to serve the Lord and give up their idols, but they didn’t!! They just hid them away. And yet, they still “served the Lord.” Our idols are in our homes, our cars, our children, our entertainment, and most dangerous of all, in our minds. How easy for these to be our “little idols,” and yet still “serve the Lord.”
Here’s the key: Do not do anything that creates passions that dwarf or diminish one’s passion for God. To do so is idolatry, and that is when we fall into the category of disciples who come up short of the grace of God.
Berry Kercheville