DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: Jonah 2:8 – “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.

We want to be practical in the application of today’s text in our lives. We pray that it sparks a change that stays with you from this very day through the rest of your life and into eternity; especially for those of us who consider ourselves true biblical Christians.

Is it worth it? Whenever we hear this question, it normally has a negative connotation attached to it. Whether it was our parents, an employer, a teacher, our friends or a spouse, there’s nothing good that comes from being asked that question. In 99.99% of all cases (my own statistics but I’m sure you mostly agree) we were asked this question because we had done something wrong. We made a bad decision and it set a consequence into motion. As the passage of scripture would suggest today, we are preparing ourselves to have the same experience – however, on a much grander scale!

What is an idol? Most of us would certainly say that it’s someone or something that you hold in high regard, esteem or value. Examples would be like how we treat a pop star, movie star, a new car, or a business professional. As these are all true, when it comes to God, idols take on a much bigger role. Spiritually speaking, an idol would be anything that you put before God. Let me say that again: an idol is ANYTHING you put before God!!! So when we make time for the Sunday game, when we make time for the family, when we have to hit up the sporting event or concert, when we have to work so hard that we’re too tired to do anything for God, we are essentially idolizing; putting whatever it is that you’re doing in front of God. You are (without speaking a word) saying that no matter what God may want from you or for you to do, what you’re doing is more important! Yikes, so I ask you – Is it worth it? Is your game more important than helping God’s people navigate the game of life? Is your family more important than the God who made them? Is your leisure and enjoyment more important than the seriousness of a soul being saved? Is your job more important than the job God has for you? What if God took it all away, who do you think you’d call on first?

We can’t allow ourselves to compromise when it comes to what is important in God’s eyes and what the world would tell us should be of importance to us. We run the risk of being alienated from God when we idolize the creations of God more than God (the Creator) himself. Today we ask you, seriously, is it worth it? Is having all the things of this world really worth it, when in the end it will all burn up, you won’t be able to take it with you, and it will tell God that you weren’t as important to me as these things were! C’mon son! We have to be better, we have to know better! What has God put on your heart right now?! We pray that it is to make him the only idol you lift up in your life. I can tell you this with the confidence of Jesus Christ – it will be worth it! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!