1 Corinthians 8
Three "Idols". Simon Cowell knew what he was talking about when he named his new TV show American Idol a decade ago. According to Nielsen's American Idol holds the record for most consecutive seasons at #1, with eight, and a staggering 30 million people average viewers.
In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul is specifically talking about food sacrificed to idols or other gods but he gives us a little insight also. "We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
Huh?
In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul is specifically talking about food sacrificed to idols or other gods but he gives us a little insight also. "We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."
Huh?
This Zimbabwean man is carrying rent money for one month.
Paul tells us that an idol is nothing at all in the world. What he means is that an idol, a false god, no matter how much we choose to believe in it, has zero power, as in, none at all, in this world. The number one false god, money, is a wonderful tool but a horrible master. Even when it seems soooo important, it can fail us at any time. Need an example? Look at Zimbabwe. Sure, it's way over on the other side of the globe, but isn't the globe shrinking anyway? In 1980 one $ZD was worth more than one $USD. Due to corruption and severe civic unrest the country entered into economic instability and inflation. Between 2004 and 2009 their government attempted three times to revalue their currency. The result was extreme hyper inflation and the end of the $ZD. There are only estimates available, but in 2009, if you wanted to buy a single $USD, you would need 2.6 BILLION ZD.
There are so many things that have been idols in my life. Some for DECADES, some years, some just a short while. But when I came across this passage again today my heart sank. I needed to come to a glorious cross on humble knees to confess. Because I want the blessing that come from Christ. I don't want the false blessings that may or may not come from any false god.
Idol - (n) That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a focus of your attention; anything that draws you away from God.
Exodus 20:3-5 ~ You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them