Life Group Leaders’ Notes
Series: Living Gods Way
Title: Don’t be an Idol Worshipper (You shall make no idols)
Key Text: Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 4:15
The commandments, far from being negative and destructive, actually provide the strongest foundation for living for individuals, families and nations. As has been seen so many times in history, they guard our freedoms and save us from pain and oppression.
This is what it says in Exodus 20:4-5: 4 ‘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. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them…’
In Deuteronomy 4 Moses expands on it. You might imagine that having seen the power of the one true God of Israel deliver them from Egypt and bring them through the Red Sea, that of course God’s people wouldn’t have any other gods or make any images of other gods. But incredibly the Israelites so quickly turned from worshipping God to worshiping idols. The early Christian scholar Origen (of Alexandria) described idolatry like this: “What each one honours before all else, what before all things he admires and loves, this for him is God.”
So many things in life that can be a blessing, can also take the place of God in our hearts and replace him as our priority in life.
This command to have no idols was not given to spoil our freedom of choice, but to protect us from devoting our lives and focussing our lives on anything that ultimately replaces God.
I want to share three reasons why you mustn’t worship idols.
1. The one true God is a living being not a created thing (Jeremiah 10)
2. The one true God has no rival or equal (Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 42:8, Matthew 6:24)
3. Only the one true God can satisfy your heart (Psalm 139 , Joshua 24:23)
Apply
J John explained in his book ‘God’s Top Ten’ that when something becomes your reason for living, you have effectively bowed down to it. It could be an object, but it might be something
quite different. Is there something you are always pursuing: a perfect home, the latest car, your next promotion?
He writes: “those deep desires … show what really is the most important thing in our lives. And that is the place where God should be, the most important, most all-consuming passion. Anything that is there instead of him is an idol.”
1. The one true God is a living being not a created thing
There’s a big difference between God and idols. God is alive but idols are lifeless. Idols are literally dumb! Listen to contrast between God and idols. The prophet Jeremiah warned Israel time and again to throw away idols that are blind, deaf, mute and so worthless that they have to be nailed down to stop them from toppling over. (Jeremiah 10) These verses highlight the utter foolishness of worshipping an idol. Idols are no comparison to God.
We have invited much cleverer and more entertaining idols to look at than a carved block of wood – for example smart phones, smart TVs, tablets, and games consoles. They may seem a lot more useful than a statue, but that doesn’t stop them from being idols.
So what are you looking at? Seriously. Are you watching anything that you shouldn’t be?
How much of your time and relationship with God have you short-changed for social media, news, games, images? You’re here now, watching this, so it can’t be all bad, but what draws your heart and where are you trying to find your satisfaction?
• Do you put church on hold every time there’s a busy period in your academic studies, because getting the best grades and academic accolades is always the highest priority in your life?
• Do you work all hours to pursue bonuses and promotions because money and power are the two things that always make you feel most fulfilled?
• Do you chase endlessly after possessions, property, relationships or social events for a buzz of contentment and satisfaction?
2. The one true God has no rival or equal
Exodus 20:5 (GNT) says: “Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals.”
Isaiah 42:8: "I alone am the LORD your God. No other god may share my glory; I will not let idols share my praise.”
There is nothing and no-one that has any right or authority to take his place in your life. It’s not that God’s insecure about power-sharing. God is holy and the only being worthy of worship. But also, He is supremely faithful and to have a relationship with him demands that we are also faithful.
Marriage gives us a good illustration of this. Good marriages are based on exclusive commitment to one another. It is the same with God. Worshipping idols is like taking other lovers and betraying your relationship with God.
Jesus specifically mentioned money as one of the biggest potential rivals to loving God. Money must never be an idol in your life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
3. Only the one true God can truly satisfy your heart
Blaise Pascal described it like this: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”
The most important reason we must not allow any idols to take first place in our lives, is that they rob and distract us from the most perfect relationship imaginable.
There is a God in heaven who knows you by name. He created you for relationship with himself and loves you more than anyone on earth.
Psalm 139 describe how deeply he knows and cares for us, saying
… you know me.
… you perceive my thoughts from afar.
… you are familiar with all my ways.
There is no relationship in the universe that can compare to a relationship with your Father in Heaven. Don’t want to waste your life on things that don’t matter. Make a decision to get rid of them of any idols in your life. As Joshua said in Joshua 24:23 NLT ‘Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”’
And then commit to obeying this commandment and to knowing the living God who loves you and who has the power to save you just as he delivered the Israelites from Egypt. Let’s pray.
If you want to know the one true God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, then you can today. Please pray with me: Lord Jesus thank you for your great love for me. Thank you that because you suffered and died on the cross, I can be saved from all my sins. So please cleanse me and help me to follow you always and love you with all my heart. Amen.
