Do Not Idolize Your Gifts
Your gifts are amazing. Your ability to draw, to write, to tell stories, to bake, to craft, to dance, to make music, to solve complex mathematical problems, see scientific solutions, or whatever other, creative gift God has given you, is amazing. That is a true fact, because God is a good and diligent God to us and to our purpose in His Kingdom. And you should acknowledge that fact; acknowledge that your gifts are spectacular, just like the God who gave them to you.
Now, this kind of confidence comes with a very big warning: do not idolize your gifts.
Most of the time the term “idol” brings up images of carved statues, huge altars, abhorrent sacrifices, blasphemous prayers to gods that can’t hear them because they don’t exist. However, an “idol” is, by definition, anything that sits in our hearts where God should be.
Think of it this way: your heart has a throne. It’s a massive, ornate thing with only room for one king. The only king that truly fits in this throne is God, but we have some say in who gets to sit there given our free will. That means we can set anything up as our king, including ourselves and our own gifts. And, when we do that, we end up sacrificing all of our time, energy, and attention to that new king we’ve set up.
This is a terrible way to live! Not only is it in rebellion to what the Lord has said, but it means we are treating our gifts and talents like they can save us. Here’s the kicker: they can’t. They can’t save us from financial ruin, they can’t save us from loneliness, they can’t save us from eternal damnation. All they can do is take up God’s throne and give us a false sense of security.
Your gifts are amazing, and God has a specific plan for them for the good of both His Kingdom and yourself. That being said, your talents, skills, and abilities are all from God, and He has given them to you for His glory, not the glory of the gifts or your own pride. Placing God back on the throne means acknowledging Him as the ultimate source of and authority over your creativity.
The easiest way to keep from idolizing your gifts (or anything!) is to remind yourself of where they came from: a loving, sovereign God. He gave you your gifts and talents, He molded you and nurtured you into the creative you are. All for your enjoyment, the benefit of those around you, and — most importantly — His glory. It was His designed that has allowed you to be creative, so make sure to thank Him and worship Him for it!
Putting it Into Action
Sometimes idolatry is incredibly easy to spot; but most of the time it creeps up on us and, before we know it, the throne of our hearts is no longer occupied by the One who created it! Take some time this week to assess your heart and ask God to reveal any idolatry you are holding onto. It is possible to be idolatrous in one area of your life, but not another, and it is possible to be blind to your own idolatry. But, take heart! God is wise and willing to help those who ask for it! If you can’t identify your own idol, ask Him for help. And rest confidently in the idea that He will forgive you totally and completely if you repent!
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
““You shall have no other gods before me...””
“Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.”
