American Idols
Recently my wife and I decided to do a thought experiment.
Here was the idea: Let’s pretend God called us to a different career, in a different location, and lower pay. What in our life would keep us from saying yes?
As we went through this experiment we started to notice that money, cars, things, relationships…all gave us hesitancy in following God’s call. We started to realize that everything we listed never seemed “bad” but when put in this context, presented themselves as idols. It sent me into a deep-dive study of this topic.
So, here are some “American Idols” and what scripture says about them.
Bottom Line
When good things become ultimate things, they quietly take God’s place.
We live in a culture that constantly tells us to chase more—more success, more stuff, more affirmation, and more control. None of these things are bad in and of themselves. In fact, most are gifts. But when good things become ultimate things, they become idols.
Let’s explore some subtle replacements we make in our hearts that shift our focus off of God and onto things that can never satisfy.
1. The Idol of More & Success
“You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
Let’s start with a familiar one: the desire for more. More money, more success, more accolades. We often tell ourselves, “If I just had a little more, then I’d feel secure. Then I’d finally be enough.” But the truth is, “more” never satisfies. Ecclesiastes 2 paints a picture of a man who has everything—wealth, status, achievement—and yet still can’t sleep at night. Why? Because success became his identity. When work becomes worship and rest starts to feel like guilt, we’ve crossed a line. We’re not just chasing goals anymore—we’re chasing worth. But the good news is: your worth isn’t found in your résumé or your bank account. It’s found in who you are through Christ—chosen, loved, and secure.
Ask yourself:
Do I work from approval or for approval? Do I find peace in God’s provision, or in my own provision?
2. The Idol of People
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother... he cannot be My disciple.” – Luke 14:26
At first glance, this verse is a tough pill to swallow. However, Jesus isn’t telling us to literally hate our families—He’s saying that our love for Him should be so great that every other relationship pales in comparison. God made us for connection. Relationships are gifts from God. But when we begin to build our lives around another person—their needs, their opinion, their approval—we're asking them to do what only God can: complete us, fulfill us, fix us. That’s not fair to them and it’s not faithful to Him. God doesn’t want to remove our relationships, He wants us to re-center them. When He is the foundation, every relationship is healthier.
Ask yourself:
Am I building my life around someone I love or around the One who gave me life in the first place?
3. The Idol of Self
“Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” – Jesus (Luke 9:23)
The idol of self is the most deceptive of all. It shows up in our calendars, our comfort zones, our desire to control every outcome, and so on. Culture tells us, “You do you,” and “Live your truth.” But Jesus invites us into something better: surrender. John the Baptist said in the book of John, “I must decrease so that He may increase.” That’s what it looks like to truly follow Jesus. Every idol—more, success, people—they all flow from this one very dangerous idol. When “self” sits on the throne, God gets pushed to the margins. But when we let go of control and let God lead, we begin to experience peace, purpose, and freedom we could never manufacture on our own.
Ask yourself:
Am I letting God interrupt my plans or just asking Him to bless them?
In Conclusion
What’s sitting on the throne of your heart? It might be something inherently good. It might be something that once started as a blessing. But if it’s taken God’s place, it’s time to tear it down. Jesus isn’t trying to steal your joy…He’s trying to give you joy that doesn’t fade, fail, or fall apart.
Put Him back at the center—and everything else will find its rightful place.