"Little Children, Keep Yourselves From Idols!"

These are the idols of the heart!

(John Angell James, "Spiritual Idolatry")

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The first commandment of the decalogue says, 

"You shall have no other gods before ME." 

The meaning of this precept, which is 

the foundation of all religion, is not 

merely that we shall not acknowledge 

any other god besides JEHOVAH--

but also that we shall treat HIM as GOD! 

That is, we . . .
  must love HIM with all our hearts,
  serve HIM with all our lives, and
  depend upon HIM for our supreme felicity.

It is obvious that whatever we love most, 

and are most anxious to retain and please--

whatever it is we depend most upon 

for happiness and help--

whatever has most of our hearts--

that is in effect, our GOD! 

It does not matter whether 

it is friends, possessions, desires--

or our own selves! 

These are the idols of the heart!

SELF is the great idol which is the rival 

of GOD, and which divides with HIM 

the worship of the human race. 

It is surprising and affecting 

to think how much SELF enters 

into almost all we do. 

Besides the grosser form of self-

righteousness, which leads many 

unconverted people actually to depend 

upon their own doings for acceptance 

with GOD; how much of . . .
  self-seeking,
  self-valuing,
  self-admiration,
  self-dependence,
there is in many converted ones!

How covertly do some seek their own 

praise in what they professedly do 

for GOD, and their fellow-creatures! 

How eager are they for the admiration 

and applause of their fellow-creatures! 

How much of self, yet how little 

suspected by themselves--

is seen by ONE who knows them 

better than they know themselves, 

at the bottom of their most splendid 

services, donations, and most 

costly sacrifices!

In how many ways does self steal away 

the heart from GOD! How subtle are its 

workings, how concealed its movements, 

yet how extensive is its influence. 

How SELF . . .

  perverts our motives,
  lowers our aims,
  corrupts our affections, and
  taints our best actions!

How much incense is burned--

and how many sacrifices are 

offered on the altar of this idol! 

"Little children, keep yourselves 

from idols!" 1 John 5:21

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