Put to death . . . greed, which is idolatry.
—Colossians 3:5
Jeremiah accused Judah: “You have as many gods as you have towns, and the altars you have set up . . . are as many as the streets of Jerusalem” (Jer 11:13).
When Paul strolled the streets of Athens, “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16).
Our hometowns are full of idols as well. Unlike Paul, we may not be distressed by them—perhaps because we don’t see them. Even worse, we may be bending the knee at some of those idolatrous altars ourselves.
Idolatry isn’t limited to primitive societies; there are many sophisticated modern-day idols. An idol is a god-substitute. Any person or thing that inhabits the place which God should occupy is an idol.
Power. Popularity. Pleasure. Possessions.
Beware!
Worship the Lord your God. And Him only.