Modern Idols: What Are You Really Worshiping?

What would you say is the definition of an idol?

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, an idol is an image worshipped as a (small g) god. 

Every generation has its idols…especially people.

In ancient times, they looked like golden calves, carved statues, and pagan altars. 

But in today’s world, idols are much more subtle—and in many ways, more dangerous. They’re not always carved from stone; they’re often crafted through ambition, curated on social media, and fed by endless comparison. They’re not sitting in temples—they’re sitting in our pockets, our bank accounts, and even our relationships. 

The question is no longer just “Do you worship?” but “What are you really worshiping?”

Exodus 20:3 (NLT) says, “You must not have any other god but me.” That command was not just for the people at Sinai—it’s for us, right now. And while we may not kneel before a statue, we bow our hearts to things that were never meant to carry the weight of our devotion.

Think about it. How many times have we checked your phone before you’ve checked in with God? 

How many decisions are driven by the desire to be seen, rather than the desire to be sanctified? 

Consider a young woman named Kara. She grew up in church, had a strong foundation of faith, but somewhere along the way, her passion for purpose got twisted into a thirst for performance. She started measuring her worth by likes and follows. Her quiet time with God shrank, but her time crafting reels and content grew. And though she said with her lips that Jesus was Lord, her calendar, her anxiety, and her decisions testified to another master.

Now compare that to King Uzziah in the Bible. In 2 Chronicles 26:5 (AMP), it says, “He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, longed for) the Lord, God caused him to prosper.” 

But here’s the twist: as soon as Uzziah became strong, his pride led to his downfall. He entered the temple to burn incense—something only priests were allowed to do—and God struck him with leprosy. His desire for spiritual position exceeded God’s boundaries. Uzziah’s idol wasn’t a statue—it was success. And it cost him everything.

Success, like social media, isn’t evil. But when they become the lens through which we see our value or define our purpose, they become idols. And idols don’t just take our time—they take our peace, our joy, and ultimately our relationship with the true God.

Matthew 6:24 (MSG) puts it bluntly: “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.” 

That verse isn’t just about money—it’s about divided loyalty. 

Simply put, we cannot worship God and popularity. We cannot worship God and ego. We cannot be ruled by the Word and the algorithm at the same time.

Then there’s the story of a perhaps lesser known character of Demas. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:10 (NLT), “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica.” 

We don’t know exactly what Demas chose over God’s mission—but we know he chose the world. Demas didn’t fall because of some great scandal—he drifted because of misplaced affection. 

And that’s how modern idols work. They don’t knock on your front door. They slowly steal our affection, our focus, our obedience—until we wake up one day and realize we are far from where we started.

Think of the countless people today sacrificing peace for promotions, family time, followers, and sleep, for scrolling. 

We asked this question yesterday - What’s shaping your decisions? Is it the Spirit—or is it the algorithm? Is our worth rooted in God’s promises—or in how many people clicked a heart on our latest social media post or how many people watched our WhatsApp status?

Psalm 115:8 (NLT) speaks a chilling truth about idols: “And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.” Wow!

That scripture is basically saying we become what we behold. 

If we worship shallow things, we become shallow. If we worship the God who sees, saves, and sanctifies, we become more like Him.

The good news, Family, is that God is still calling us back. He’s not demanding perfection—He’s asking for priority. He wants to be first, not for His benefit, but for ours. Because when God is first, everything else falls into place. 

When God is first, success doesn’t shake us. When God is first, social media doesn’t define us. When God is first, our heart is safe from counterfeit altars.

So today, let us ask ourselves honestly: What am I really worshiping? What am I sacrificing for? What am I shaping my life around? Because in the end, whatever holds our hearts is our true god.

Let’s lay down the idols. Let’s return to the One who alone is worthy. 

As Joshua said in Joshua 24:15 (NLT), “Choose today whom you will serve... But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

And that’s the choice each of us must make—every day, with every click, every decision, every motive. 

Because in a world full of idols, the true worshipers are the ones who know where our help—and our hope—comes from. 

aub - 27May25 

www.zjoyvi.com

https://www.youtube.com/live/Am4Qskkk7tk?si=ydxUEIWpZ7a1ZKrE