May 4, Morning
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods." — Jeremiah 16:20 · KJV
One great besetting sin of ancient Israel was idolatry, and the spiritual Israel is troubled by a tendency to the same folly. The old star-gods shine no longer, and the women no longer weep for Tammuz, but money still sets up its golden calf, and the shrines of pride are not deserted. Self, in one form or another, keeps struggling to bring the chosen ones under its rule, and the flesh raises its altars wherever it can find room. Favorite children are often the cause of much sin in believers; the Lord is grieved when He sees us doting on them beyond measure. They will live to be as great a curse to us as Absalom was to David, or they will be taken from us and leave our homes empty. If Christians want to grow thorns to stuff their sleepless pillows, let them idolize the ones they love. It is truly said that "they are no gods," for the objects of our foolish love are very doubtful blessings; the comfort they give us now is dangerous, and the help they can give in the hour of trouble is small indeed. Why, then, are we so bewitched by empty things? We pity people who bow to a god of stone, and then we worship a god of gold. Where is the great superiority of a god of flesh over one of wood? The principle, the sin, the folly are the same in either case, except that our crime is worse, because we have more light and sin in the face of it. The idolater bows to a false deity, but he has never known the true God; we commit two evils, since we forsake the living God and turn to idols. May the Lord purge us all of this grievous sin! Whatever the dearest idol I have known may be, Lord, help me tear it from Your throne and worship only You.