Idolatry Starts in the Heart

Dr. Ray Pritchard

Idolatry lies in the worshiper, not in the thing worshiped. A golden calf is not an idol by itself. Left to itself, a golden calf is just a golden calf. It becomes an idol only when we begin to worship it. It is a wrong attitude that turns something good into something bad.

• Don’t blame your car if you aren’t happy. It’s your fault that you trust in your car to give you satisfaction.
• Don’t blame your boy friend if you aren’t happy. It’s your fault that you look to him to make you happy.
• Don’t blame your spouse if you aren’t happy. No husband or wife can make you happy all the time.
• Don’t blame your boss if you aren’t happy. He’s not responsible for your happiness.
• Don’t blame your children if you aren’t happy. God never meant for you to look to them as the source of your happiness.
• Don’t blame your new house if you aren’t happy. No house can provide ultimate happiness.
• Don’t blame your church if you aren’t happy. No church can make you happy.

Happiness comes from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can satisfy the deepest needs of your life. Looking anywhere else for ultimate happiness is really just a sophisticated form of idolatry.