There’s an old story: To catch a monkey, you place a coconut in a box. The monkey reaches through the hole in the box and grabs the coconut, but cannot pull its hands back out unless it lets go of the coconut. It won’t let go of the coconut. And so it’s trapped.
Well, that’s us with our idols. We cling to gifts, talents, success, status, affirmation, and we refuse to let go, even when it costs us freedom, even when it blocks our worship.
God states, You shall have no other gods before Me. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. Exodus 20:3, 5. Now, lest you think that God is petty, understand that God’s jealousy isn’t petty, it’s protective. He knows only He can satisfy the heart that He made. And when we grip the gift tighter than we cling to Him, we miss what matters most.
Slipping into idolatry isn’t always obvious to us. Often it is a good gift that God gives you that ends up becoming the idol in your life. A talent becomes your identity. Earthly treasure becomes your measure of worth and security. Martin Luther put it this way: “Let each person use God’s gifts like a traveler uses an inn — temporarily, not as an idol.”
You see, gifts are not bad, but they’re not God. They must be held loosely, not worshiped, not clutched.
So perhaps you can ask, “What am I gripping to too tightly? Can I still see God in this gift or is He being eclipsed by the gift itself?” When the Holy Spirit convicts, then confess it. Trust Him and loosen your grip.
Prayer
Lord, I confess the ways that I have clung to gifts and missed You. Reveal anything that I may have placed above You, and then loosen my grip mercifully and gently. Help me to love You more than what You have given me, for You are the only one worth holding on to. And I thank You for holding on to me. Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
