My Idols

There are a little more than two weeks of school left in this semester. My last official day is May 18th. A few weeks ago, I met with my academic adviser and as it turns out [BIG SIGH] I am one unit short of graduating. Yep. One. I wasn't as discouraged by this as some might think. Is it inconvenient? Oh yes. Does it create more work for me? Of course! Am I bitter? No, not really. Hopefully, I will be able to take a summer class at a local community college to fulfill the unit. And then I'll be done.

I'm really happy that it comes really naturally for me to make plans and always attach, "Lord willing," at the end of them. If I look back at all the plans I made for finishing the school year, I'm almost certain I mostly said some variation of "If the Lord wills," etc. Sometimes, unfortunately, it can be a throw-away phrase that deludes me into thinking I'm somehow more spiritual for having said it. But it truly does serve as a good reminder of what my hope is.

My hope (that which I set my eyes on, live my life for, and long for wholeheartedly) are not any of the following things (although, how easy it is to make them such!):
A degree
A job
A family
A house
My husband
A life style
A car
A title
An ability
A body image

I do not live for comfort, prestige, recognition, ease, stability, security.
I ought not to concern myself with social approval, the balance in my checking account, the books on my walls, the phone in my pocket, the friends I have or don't have,
These, once focus is on them and off God, are idols.
My education is an idol.
My job is an idol.
My abilities are idols.
My family is an idol.
My husband is an idol.
My hopes for the future are idols.
If I am living for them.

I am an idol. If I'm living for myself. I am my biggest danger.

What good does it do a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Nothing. All I've amassed is worth nothing.

My hope, my rest, my peace and joy are on the Lord's will.
Who cares if I'm loving life because everything is going my way. There are no bragging rights in loving life because it's easy. How does that make me better?
I care if I'm loving my life when nothing is going my way.
If my whole world can fall apart, if I can lose my job, my home, my car, my friends, my lifestyle, my husband, my family, my self-worth, my health, a limb, everything, I want to be able to maintain my joy.

That's a tall order. God has been kind to me so far. He has not asked me to forfeit anything that would be terribly difficult. I don't know that He ever will. But it ought not matter.