Where Your Treasure Is

The title of my message today is Where Your Treasure Is. We are going to talk about idolatry today.

I was doing housework one day this week and the Lord told me something about idolatry. And I said, Lord, I just recorded a podcast on idolatry, Why are we talking about idolatry again?

And He said, “Idolatry is anything people run to for comfort besides Me.”

And I was thinking, why is He…..and THEN IT HIT ME WHY !! The reason the Lord wants everyone to understand this is because the judgments are about to start and in those times everyone left on earth will be DESPERATELY SEEKING COMFORT. In those times most people will be willing to do anything for even the smallest comfort. All of our comforts will be stripped away, and the Lord is going to use our lack of comfort to get the attention of all those who are perishing.

Making God in Your Image

In Biblical times, some people were idol makers by trade. They fashioned little gods out of metal or stone or wood or whatever. These “Household Gods” as they were called, were considered great treasures and were passed down from generation to generation.

These idol makers could fashion God to look and be however they wanted. They made him conform to THEiR image, an image convenient for THEIR LIVES. They could make a god that would FIT IN with their sin. JUST LIKE PEOPLE DO NOW.

How many times have we seen somebody get saved and they try to fit God into their life by adjusting GOD instead of adjusting THEIR SIN. And when He won’t fit because He will not be 2nd, they decide that God just doesn’t work for them. No. He don’t. God don’t work for anybody. He’s GOD! God is not an ATM of answered prayers that you install in your house and then forget until you need something. He is GOD and He will BE God – He won’t play second fiddle.

Rachel and the Household Gods

In Genesis 31, we read the story of Jacob leaving Laban’s employ. Laban had dishonestly changed Jacob’s wages ten times and Jacob had just had enough of it. So he told Rachel and Leah – pack up the kids, we’re headin’ out.

Well, they did. In fact, Rachel packed extra well, she also packed up Laban’s household gods. I always wondered why she did that. She was married to a man who believed in the one TRUE god, so why did she grab those little statue gods and take them along?? Well, I think the study notes I just read may reveal the ANSWER. Let me read this one note to you:

Note to Gen. 31:19 (NIV, 3rd ed study Bible) – Many people kept small wooden or metal idols in their homes. These idols were called teraphim and they were thought to protect the home and offer advice in times of need. They had legal significance as well, for when they were passed on to an heir, the person who received them could rightfully claim the greatest part of the family inheritance. … Most likely Rachel stole her father’s idols because she was afraid Laban would consult them and learn where she and Jacob had gone or perhaps she wanted to claim the family inheritance.

Looking for the definition of teraphim, I found this on Wikipedia:

teraphim may refer to singular objects, using the Hebrew plural of excellence. The word Teraphim is explained in classical rabbinical literature as meaning disgraceful things.

Unlike the days of the Israelites, we don’t have little gods we carry around in a box. You won’t box THIS God in! You can’t put Him away in a dark box so He won’t see you sinning until you want Him to give you something. HE WILL BE GOD.

We serve a holy God, yall. He sees every sin and excuses NONE of them. Forgiveness comes through repentance which means to CHANGE DIRECTION and asking for His forgiveness.

Where Your Treasure Is

As humans, we tend to fall into daily routines, don’t we? A routine anchors our days and gives us a sense of normalcy. I am a person who likes routines. I like the security of a routine and knowing certain things will get done each day. Every morning I have a set of chores I do. Each evening I have another set of chores I do.

My routines make sure certain things are done like my dogs get their medications on time. The dogs have fresh water in clean bowls, and all the drapes are drawn in each room and doors & windows are locked.

I don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on these things, they are just routines that help me maintain my home and care for my pets properly.