Little-g gods, Part I
I just finished a book yesterday evening. No Other Gods by Kelly Minter. I love that girl. If I lived in Nashville, I would certainly want to find her and try to be her friend. You know what I’m talking about…when you meet someone and you just know that they are legit. And you seriously want to do what you can to be their friend but not be a crazy-stalker-girl? I haven’t even met Kelly, but from what she shares when she’s writing, I’m sure we’d be kindred spirits!Back to the book. The premise is recognizing the things in our lives that while may be good, can become bad when they become ultimate things and replace God. Ouch! Think: career, body image, exercise for me. The list goes on and on.Kelly makes a profound yet simple point: it’s when times are tough that we are more susceptible to the lure of false gods. Not when all is well, but when life is difficult. And I think about my life. When it has been difficult, painful, uncertain.And I think about what I have tried to cling to more than God. Not only before the ugly truth, but since. The number on the scale. My health. The bottom line in my checkbook registry. And even just this week? Jason’s work schedule… as in, financial security.I was reading just this morning in Numbers 25. It’s when the Israelites are camped along the Jordan across from Jericho, along the plains of Moab (see Chapter 22). They had just waged war against the Arads and Amorites and completely destroyed them (Numbers 21:3). Can you imagine the uncertainty they were facing? The difficulty at this point? All the wandering. Think 40 years. And now the battles. While the Israelites were staying along the Moab border, they began to
“…indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor…” Numbers 25:1-3
They yoked themselves to these little-g gods. Think bondage. Think joining securely. But not so secure. All the while God was there. And He had a plan. He had made a promise. To bring them into the land of Canaan. The land overflowing with milk and honey. But they believed the enticing lies of the little-g gods. And I know I am no different.What about for you? What are the little-g gods in your life? The ones you have clung onto more than God? The ones that offer comfort and security to our flesh but drought and despair to our soul?