How Do We Discern Our Idols?
Today a friend of mine graciously gave me a copy of Tim Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods. Normally I don’t do this, but I was so intrigued with the title of the Epilogue (Finding and Replacing Your Idols) that I started reading there first. Keller poses one main question in this section, namely, “How do we discern our idols?” Here’s the outline of his very helpful and very challenging response:
1. Look at your imagination. What do you think about in the privacy of your heart?
2. Look at how you spend your money. Patterns of spending reveal idols.
3. Look at what you are really living for. What is your real–not professed–god?
4. Look at your most uncontrollable emotions. When you pull your emotions up by the roots, you will often find your idols clinging to them.
(HT: Take Your Vitamin Z)
