Foolish People
- Bishop Keith Butler
- Mar 7, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 17, 2023
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:22)
Paul painted a vivid picture for us of the kind idolatry that was prevalent in ancient times. People would worship statues of men, birds, and beasts, corruptible things that God had created.
Many people dismiss these passages because they think no one worships idols in today's modern society, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Idolization in our world is very active. In fact, it's easy for people to get caught up in the worship of worldly things. People idolize celebrities or politicians. They idolize cars, mansions, gold, cash and even “likes” on social media. But Romans 1:22 reminds us when we put these things above God and make them the center of our lives, we are professing ourselves to be wise but in reality we are stepping into a fool’s world.
Idolatry is sinful and displeasing to God. Those who boast about their worldly possessions and achievements are like empty promises. They may seem impressive at first, but ultimately, they bring no satisfaction and no fulfillment to our lives.
How can you avoid the trap of idolatry? Examine your purpose for everything you do. For example, ask yourself, “Why do I serve? Is it for my own self-worth or for the glory of God?”
“Why am I an excellent employee? Is it simply for the salary or do I do it for the glory of God?”
Wise people serve God. Fools live for idols. Idolatry is a serious issue that can subtly creep into our lives if we are not actively paying attention to the focus of our heart and motives.
Practical Application
Giving is a powerful tool to get rid of idolatry in our lives. When we give to God of our time, resources, or money, we essentially say that these things do not have ultimate control over our lives; God does. We recognize everything we have is a gift from Him and we are called to use it for His glory and His Kingdom.
