I heard the story of the conversation between a young man and an older believer. How do I recognize if there is an idol in my life the young man asked. By how much fight you put up when that thing in your life is being taken from you the old man responded.
Dearly beloved, how much fight do you put up when the word God is placing a demand on your life, your time, your relationship, your pride your ego? How much fight do you put up when God is placing a demand on your finance, your food, your ministry?
The woman Hanah had waited on God for many years to no avail. I would have expected her to idolize her Samuel. Would you have blamed her for that? Her only child? After a long wait? This woman would rather take this child to Gods house at Shiloh and leave him there with God. Not even the kind of pastors and church leaders - Hophni & Phineas would make her change her mind. Abraham had waited for many years for his Isaac. Yet, he was willing to sacrifice his son to God just at one instruction. He needed no other to confirm it. He went straight to Mount Moriah. What is that thing that has taken Gods place in your life? What is that thing that has taken Gods time in your life? Perhaps your ministry has taken your time so much so that you only seek God to get something that will get your ministry going. The desire for a personal intimacy with God is not there, then your ministry has taken the place of intimacy. May be your marriage has become your idol. As a result, you have no time for God anymore. You may want to consider dethroning everything that compete with the supremacy of God in your life right now.
1 John 5:21: Little Children keep yourself from Idol - Amen.
