“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” — 1 John 5:21
This is the last sentence in the entire book of 1 John. Keep in mind, this is a letter. He didn’t say, “Sincerely, John.” He didn’t say, “I hope you have a wonderful summer.” He didn’t even tell them goodbye! He just reminded them to keep themselves from idols.
What is the big deal about idols? We live in a modern era where people don’t bow down before a golden statue or bring grain to a marble altar. Here’s the thing, idolatry goes much further than that. Idolatry is when you place something before God on the altar of your life.
Worship is not just a Christian action; it’s a human action. Everyone in this world worships something. From sports to entertainment to friendships to relationships, it’s easy to let your worship get warped. God calls you to keep away from idolatry. That means He is calling you to prevent putting anything or anyone before Him.
We often have a hard time spotting our own idolatry, but it’s crucial that we find it and fight it. Sometimes when you can’t spot it, you may want to look into a mirror. God isn’t asking you to shave your head, give up all your possessions, and become a monk.
He’s simply inviting you to re-prioritize your life. You’ll discover that when you prioritize Jesus, everything else falls into place.