At what point does something become an idol?

[Rubiks]

Hello, i'm currently struggling with whether how much I play video games every day(2 hours on school days, 4-5 hours on weekends) is an idol or not. I'm honestly trying to find activities that can serve God, but because I have Aspergers syndrome i find it very hard to socialize with others. I do realize that video games are fine in moderation.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

Hello, i'm currently struggling with whether how much I play video games every day(2 hours on school days, 4-5 hours on weekends) is an idol or not. I'm honestly trying to find activities that can serve God, but because I have Aspergers syndrome i find it very hard to socialize with others. I do realize that video games are fine in moderation.

Hello, and, glad to see you are concerned about such issues...as we all should be.

The key is : Maintaining a balance with everything in your life , and, if youre going to err on something, it is better to err on the side of giving a huge amount of time to God in the form of worship, praise, and service .

Personally, given the amount of time youve listed....and suspecting youre probably a Teenager .... I would say youre not overboard so long as you are getting priorities settled like homework , chores, duties around the house, work, etc... We all need recreational time, and, we all differ on what that looks like --- some enjoy being challenged by playing skillful Video Games while others might like to fish , hunt, bike ride, sports, or work out. None of it is wrong, per se ... it just that we must prevent it from ruling our lives. What i do every now and then just to make sure im not getting consumed by my hobbies, is, ill take a rest from them and do something different that is enjoyable whether it be inside the house or outside.

Making an IDOL out of something (or someone) occurs when we start to get our self esteem from that / when it is a consuming thought all the time / when we push vital priorities away so we can do the Idol consuming venture / when the Holy Spirit speaks to us about the tremendous amount of time being invested in it at the expense of other important things in our life / or....putting it before Gods rightful place in our lives .

What i would ask yourself is : Am i getting consumed with it ? Is it all i want to do ? Is it all i really think of ? Does it define me ? Can i do without it for a good amount of time ? Is it making me tense or violent as a result of doing it ? Is it a constructive way to occupy my time ? Am i allow other things to fall by the wayside so i can do it ? Do i have good variety in my life as far as recreational time goes ? And....if Jesus were here with me, would he be okay with the amount of time and energy im putting into it ?

Sometimes we need a FAST from things which have become habitual, just to prove to ourselves that its not owning us . Know what i mean ?

 

[Rubiks]

thanks!

 

[sunshine456]

Anything we own can be considered Idols. That is why JESUS CHRIST said we should sell all our possessions and give to the poor and needy. When others lack and we have more, "what is that trully saying about our concern for love thy neighbor as ourself?"

"who are we really serving when we drive BMW's, cadillacs, toyotas, etc?"

"Whom do we really serve when.......we clothes ourselves in fine linen? Adorn ourselves with jewelry or fancy time pieces? Own houses we don't need?"

We are not serving GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST....were serving the enemy by being decieved to believe those idols matter. Serve the lord by serving one another in love....which is compassion, kindness, encouragement, reproving, rebuking, caring, doing good to one another.

Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

Anything we own can be considered Idols. That is why JESUS CHRIST said we should sell all our possessions and give to the poor and needy. When others lack and we have more, "what is that trully saying about our concern for love thy neighbor as ourself?"

...................

I have to correct you if you dont mind me doing so . Jesus didnt say for us ALL to sell our possessions and give them to the poor ; he told that to a particular very Rich Man who Jesus knew was making an idol out of his personal finanical assets . It is a warning to us .

Christians can still own a BMW , etc... and be a committed Christ Follower. I know of several people who are very well of financially and drive something nice BUT they give huge sums of money, their time and energy to serving God and Others and do not put themselves above anyone else just because they are wealthy . Yes, i requires great caution since money can start to rule your life ...but many wealthy Christian can and do maintain the proper perspective on this issue. For those who have been given much, much is required of them --- that is the only caveat . In fact, wealthy Christians who handle their money according to biblical terms, are a great asset to the Kingdom of God because much good can result from the giving of some of their assets .

 

[trulyconverted]

Hello, i'm currently struggling with whether how much I play video games every day(2 hours on school days, 4-5 hours on weekends) is an idol or not. I'm honestly trying to find activities that can serve God, but because I have Aspergers syndrome i find it very hard to socialize with others. I do realize that video games are fine in moderation.

I guess anything or anyone that captivates your mind and heart, and your thoughts are consumed by it day in & day out... maybe considered an idol. Anything addictive or something your heart longs for too much.

I do can tell if I like something too much.

Added:.... I meant something/someone other than God.

 

[insurchoftruth]

An idol is anything that comes before God, or could take the place of God, in our hearts and lives, if we give it an opportunity.

That is why Jesus said, that if we love our mother or father more than him, we are not worthy of him. In other words, if our mother or father come on the first place and God on the second place in our lives, then even they would be like an idol to us. Jesus is either Lord of all, or not Lord at all, in our lives. He would not accept anything else.

God wants to have the first place in our lives, always, and that includes any area of our lives. That means he wants to be the first in our time spending, in how we spend our finances, in our relationships, work, everything. If anything else comes first before him, that could be like an idol for us.

It is not easy, and sometimes we all tend to let other things or people take the first place, in our lives, but by the help of the Holy Spirit, we could change it again, and let God be the first.