Idolatry (Part 2): Self-Importance

In the first post, we looked at how idolatry is described to Israel as having something before God, and/or worshipping a created thing instead of the Creator. But if we remove the limitation of the focus on some ancient local deity, or an actual carved idol, we can see more clearly how this might still be an issue in our lives. And if
there is really something in our lives that takes our time and attention away from loving and serving and honoring God, or gets between us and a deeper love for others, wouldn’t we want to know? Of course! So let’s look at one area of life (more to follow in coming weeks).

In Mark 10:13, parents brought their little children to Jesus for a blessing, but the disciples “scolded the parents for bothering him.” Really, the parents were bothering the disciples for intruding on their precious time with Jesus! They figured they were much more important than these others. Jesus corrected them, and said “anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” This is in the context of two different times (9:33-34 and 10:35-45) when the disciples completely misunderstood about personal importance in God’s view. They each considered themselves important, and others, obviously, less so. But Jesus put himself as the servant, not the big shot (10:45). So should we, then. Except we don’t.

How can we know we have this problem? Generally, it shows up when we get angry at something in the news, or the way someone (like a spouse) speaks to us, but we excuse ourselves by considering it someone else’s fault. Try asking these questions in a time of quiet and extended prayer:
--Why did I get so angry / Why do I feel this strongly?
--What value, in my thinking, does this come from? When and how did this become a value to me?
--Does my reaction in this way bring glory to God, and express Jesus’ love and compassion for people?
--Where is my personal thinking about this subject conflicting with the love of God?

This exercise can help us see how we have in fact made ourselves, our opinions and our personal sovereignty over life, into an idol. We perpetuate that self-importance in many ways, whether trying to get others to pay attention to us, or arguing with someone over a differing opinion instead of listening, or insisting on our food being exactly ‘just so,’ or a multitude of other details in which we try to continue as the center of the universe.

Our ‘worldview’ is made up of all these different viewpoints, and our reactions reveal them. And when they conflict with the love of God, they’re not just sins — they are themselves, idols: ideas and convictions and self-protecting emotions that actually come between us and God, and all too often, hurt other people as well. T follow Jesus requires, as the disciples found out during their time with Jesus, being corrected on these points when they arise, and gradually acquiring a “God-centered worldview.” Being centered entirely on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will, in time, help us see and surrender our self-importance, putting God and others higher than our own god-complexes.