Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love.
Jonah 2:8 (HCSB)
What does it matter if a person believes a lie so long as it makes him happy? If a person is happy believing that the sticks and stones he worships, the dead men’s bones he bows down before, are gods, what does it matter? What right do we have to tell him of his error and folly? If a person is happy in his lust for wealth or his seeking appreciation above all else, who are we to say that his lifestyle choices are not right?
When people follow worthless idols, two things happen. On the positive side, they actively send themselves down the path of frustration, despair, and sorrow. When we put anything in the place of God, when we put all our hopes on something which is not divine, we set ourselves up for failure. When life takes a terrible turn, all the philosophies and rituals we might have will not give us answers that satisfy. When we worship and idolise ‘beauty,’ we find that, eventually, we age. When wealth is our goal we find that we always, always, need more if we are to be ‘happy’. If lust is our god, we find our bodies failing and our desires waning. If being well thought of is our highest goal, eventually we will see all our lies and faҫades tumble down around us, as our lives collapse.
Only having an eternal and completely independent person as our God and highest good can bring satisfaction and joy. When people follow and worship false idols, they not only set themselves up for trouble, but they forsake and give up on something truly wonderful—faithful love. God’s faithful love is more precious than gold, more valuable than silver. God’s faithful love is better than human philosophies and rituals, better than wealth and appreciation, better than beauty and sex. God’s faithful love is wonderful beyond words. Let us never forsake to live each day, experiencing and rejoicing in His faithful love.
