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A disclaimer first: Over the years I have gathered a large quantity of writings on various topics. This is a mix of stuff I have written and others have written. In many cases I have long since forgotten which is which. I have not intentionally plagiarized anything and hope no one is offended if I publish something another contributed to.

Consider for a moment that everyone on earth has the same amount of time in every day.  President or paper boy, housewife or executive, farmer or financier – they all have exactly 24 hours in each day, 168 hours in each week, 525,600 minutes in each year.  Some people take that time and build relationships, dream dreams and make plans, cultivate their walk with God, develop new skills and live lives of adventure.  Some people watch a lot of TV.

What differentiates people isn’t the amount of time available to them, but the manner in which they exercise their gifts and talents within the available time.  We can waste time; we can spend time; or we can invest our time wisely.  That’s what stewardship is about: faithfully developing and using our gifts, talents and resources within the amount of time God has allotted to us.

In every stewardship relationship there are two parties involved: the master who hands out the resources and will one day ask for an accounting; and the steward who is entrusted with the resources and must eventually answer for how they were invested.  God is the master; he distributes gifts at his discretion.  We are stewards, accountable to him for all that we do with all that we have.  Michael Novak puts it like this:

We didn’t give ourselves the personalities, talents, or longings we were born with.  When we fulfill these – these gifts from beyond ourselves – it is like fulfilling something we were meant to do…. The Creator of all things knows the name of each of us – knows thoroughly, better than we do ourselves, what is in us, for he put it there and intends for us to do something with it – something that meshes with his intentions for many other people…. Even if we do not always think of it that way, each of us was given a calling – by fate, by chance, by destiny, by God.

Do not rush through this thought.  Herein lies the fundamental principle of biblical stewardship – the fundamental principle of all Christianity, in fact: We own nothing.  God owns everything; we are simply managers.  The Bible says, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’  But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

As humbling as this sounds, we don’t bring anything to the table.  It’s all God’s.  This principle carries some heavy implications.  First, since God owns it all, he holds the rights that come with ownership.  Since we only have what we have been allowed to have, then we operate primarily in the realm of responsibilities.  Hear that clearly: God has rights; we have responsibilities. God has entrusted us with certain resources, gifts and abilities.  These things rightfully belong to him.  Our responsibility is to live by that trust by managing these things well, according to his design and desire.

Another implication is that since God owns everything and expects us to manage things according to his plan and purpose, every decision is a spiritual decision.  Whether it’s buying a new car or going to the movies, how we use our time and money matters a great deal to God.  God demands to be in the loop on every investment, purchase and decision.

Our culture says we are OWNERS, while the Bible (especially Jesus) says we are STEWARDS (cf. Matt. 25;Lk. 16). Here are the key differences:

OWNER: My material resources belong exclusively to me.

STEWARD: My resources belong to God, who is the owner of all things (Ps. 24:1). He has temporarily entrusted these resources to me.

The concept of private property is valid in both paradigms. Since God has entrusted these resources to me and not to you, you do not have the right to make me use them the way you choose.

OWNER: I may use my resources however I wish.

STEWARD: I should use God’s resources to advance his priorities.

OWNER: I am not accountable to anyone else for how I use my resources.

STEWARD: I will give an account to God for how I use his resources (not for salvation, but for reward).

How do you view yourself–as an OWNER or a STEWARD?

Biblical Stewardship: The GAS Principle

These three key truths are the foundation of biblical stewardship. You can handle resources for His glory effectively only when you understand and accept these truths. They need to be instinctive, so you apply them to all parts of your lives: at home, at school, at work, and at church.

Biblical Stewardship Truth #1: God Owns Everything
 -Psalm 24:1-2: The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
 Colossians 1:16: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Biblical Stewardship Truth #2: Accept What You Have
 - 1 Timothy 6:7- 8: For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 
Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Biblical Stewardship Truth #3: Seek First His Kingdom And Submit Your Requests To Him - 
Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well–Note: “These things” refer to food, clothes, and life, not “grown up toys” or fancy gadgets. 
Proverbs 19:21: Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

The Biblical Testimony on Giving

THE GUIDELINE OF THE TITHE. In the Old Testament, believers were required to give a tenth of their income to the support of the ministry and needs of the poor. While the New Testament does not teach at length on the subject of tithing, Jesus encouraged people to continue the Old Testament practice (Matt. 23:23). But things have changed. Since we are far more blessed by God than Old Testament believers, we assume we are held more responsible for generosity, not less. Thus the tithe (10% of annual income) is a kind of minimum guideline for giving.

THE GUIDELINE OF SACRIFICE. Paul says of the Macedonians, “They gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:3). That means they gave until it meant a sacrifice in their lifestyle. Some believers are blessed to able to give above ten percent.

THE GUIDELINE OF GENEROSITY. Christians are called not only to give a regular portion of their income, they are also called to give generously. Paul lists “generosity” as one unique spiritual gift possessed by some Christians (Rom. 12:8). How do you know if you have the gift of generosity? The same way you discover any spiritual gift: try it and see if you are good at it. If you find yourself dreaming about ways to give away your money to the work of God’s kingdom, then you probably have the gift of generosity!

THE GUIDELINE OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY. Our tendency is to think of giving as an extra spiritual discipline that we may or may not take on. But the teaching of the Bible is that all of our money already belongs to God. Therefore, we have been given the task of managing, or stewarding, everything in our possession. We must control our material wealth in the same way an investment manager is called to responsibly control the assets with which he or she has been entrusted. As soon as we begin to use our possessions any way we want, we are defrauding our creator. So we must consider how God wants us to manage his money.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21.  It seems that with the abundant amount of teaching Jesus did on money/stewardship that if He wanted to reveal where our hearts are he might start by asking to see our check registries.

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being, the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Tim Keller expounds on how Jesus is a better Adam. He says, “Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.” Where Adam failed, Jesus succeeded.

Keller continues with several Old Testament characters:

“Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.”

See, the Bible is all about Jesus! From Genesis to Revelation we can be sure that He is there, waiting to show us how is the perfect, sinless, Messiah who takes away the sin of the world!

Below is a poem (with explanation) written by someone in our faith community that prepares our hearts to partake of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Communion

(Reader)

It was before
we’d taken in a breath
as Kosmos let his out, hollered
hunger pangs so strong that
the cemeteries belched up their
tenants and the dead began their
Palestinian perambulations –

(All)

The sheep are slain
in Zion while
the Word becomes
bread tonight.

(Reader)

You had not yet poured out
the lethal cup of our heredity
onto the last lacerated strands
of your swaddling epidermis –

(All)

The sheep are slain
in Zion while
the Word becomes
bread tonight.

(Reader)

the Holiest boil had not been lanced
the Almighty scab torn
clean off leaving us
breathless as the wound bled afresh
and the divine Tide seeped into
Jerusalem streets –

(All)

The sheep are slain
in Zion while
the Word becomes
bread tonight.

(Reader)

“Oh may I rightly grasp the breadth and length of this design,
draw near, obey, extend the hand,
take the bread, receive the cup,
eat and drink, testify before all men
 that I do for myself, gladly, in faith,
reverence and love, receive my Lord,
to be my life, strength, nourishment, joy, delight.
In the supper I remember his eternal love,
boundless grace, infinite compassion,
 agony, cross, redemption,
and receive assurance of pardon, adoption, life, glory. 
As the outward elements nourish my body,
so may thy indwelling Spirit invigorate my soul,
until that day when I hunger and thirst no more,
and sit with Jesus at his heavenly feast.”

(All)

The sheep are slain
in Zion while
the Word becomes bread tonight.

Explanation:

The basic premise of this poem is that the speaker is someone, possibly a disciple, who is alive and present during the cosmic supernatural events that surround the death of Christ, the God-man. The speaker describes all of these strange goings-on using visceral metaphors of belching, scabs, and violence. These stanzas are then contrasted with the beautiful, eloquent words of a Puritan prayer of Communion. Each stanza is followed by the same refrain, to be spoken by everyone in the congregation: “The sheep are slain in Zion, while the Word becomes bread tonight.” This refrain is meant to show an extreme shift: from the ritualized killing of livestock to signify God’s forgiveness, to Jesus’s sacrifice, his life and death, becoming the very food we eat and drink, an intimate and humbling experience.
The first stanza refers to Matthew 27:52-53, when tombs are opened while Jesus is on the cross and those “who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” I mention Kosmos, the Greek word for the universe, as initiating this, taking as my cue Romans 8:22, which reminds us that “the whole creation has been groaning together,” waiting for the Kingdom of God to come in full. I like the idea that Christ’s death and resurrection sent the entire universe into a tizzy, and creation went so out of whack that even the dead were raised – reminding us of our own hope for bodily resurrection.
The second stanza is a little more straightforward. The “lethal cup of our heredity” is the sin of all mankind, reaching all the way back to the Fall (Romans 5:18). This cup is poured onto Christ’s broken flesh – whipped, hit, spat on, beaten – as he suffered on the cross (Matthew 27:26-31). I like the image of “swaddling epidermis,” because it ties the crucifixion back to Jesus’ birth, and reminds us that Christ allowed himself to be incarnated, to put on human skin and live a human life, even though He is the eternal God (Philippians 2:6-8).
The third stanza describes the tearing of the veil in the Holiest of Holies as a scab torn off, evoking violence because I wanted to associate this event with the brutality of the crucifixion (Matthew 27:51a). However, the image takes a turn when what escapes this wound is not blood, but the “divine Tide” – a phrase which both suggests the Tide brand of detergent, referring to the purifying power of God’s love through Christ, as well as waves at the beach, which reflects God’s overwhelming, incessant pursuit of His children.
The fourth, longest stanza, as I mentioned before, is a Puritan prayer in commemoration of the Lord’s Supper. The prayer celebrates the very simple meal of bread and wine – or grape juice – as a reminder of our spiritual hunger and thirst, which will not be fully satisfied until Jesus returns to earth. It’s flowery, eloquent language describing the bread and the cup are a striking contrast to the plain-spoken, sometimes grotesque language of the rest of the poem.

How many times in the last week have you “opened the book”? In the last month? In the last year? As Christians in our culture we have a very low view of Scripture. There are people who claim the Bible has errors, isn’t true, contradicts itself, and that it only pertains to the first century culture. These views definitely lend to the masses not opening the book. There is also a sense of looking, and waiting, for God to speak to us in an audible, deep-voice-from-heaven sort of way. When that doesn’t happen, we automatically conclude he doesn’t exist or he doesn’t care about his creation.

What we see in Nehemiah, however, is such a high view of Scripture that 50,000 people in the hot Middle East cram into an area of the city known as the Water Gate (no, there is no correlation between this Water Gate and the infamous Water Gate Scandal of President Nixon) to hear Ezra read and preach for six hours. Six hours of being so close to 50,000 people you could suffocate. Six hours of conviction, weeping, and dry dirt being turned to mud from the tears of the convicted. There was such reverence for the Word of God that when it was read, 50,000 people fell to their faces in utter horror of their sin and depravity. There were no questions of errors, contradictions, or relevancy.

You see, God speaks to us through his Word. We don’t have to wait for a deep voice from heaven because we already know what God is saying to us if we just open the book. Paul writes in 2 Timothy that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” Every word in Scripture is breathed out by God, therefore it is inerrant and true in every respect. If you disagree with what God has revealed through his Word it is not the Bible that is wrong, it is you. His Word changes us, shapes us, convicts us, and molds us into who he wants us to be. None of that happens without opening the book and hearing God speak.

Make it a priority to open the book on a daily basis. Here are some great resources for keeping you on track:

1. The YouVersion Bible App is free on both iPhones and Droids. Download it.
2. Dr. Horner’s Bible Reading Plan (this is a cyclical reading plan that includes 10 chapters a day of
reading and can be used via the YouVersion Bible App).
3. Journals – buy one and begin journaling what you are reading.

1. REACH OUT TO “THE LEAST OF THESE” IN YOUR CITY.
Who needs the most help in our city?  We live in a region with two county jails, two juvenile detention centers, three emergency shelters for teens, at least one woman’s shelter, multiple homeless shelters, schools for adolescents with behavioral issues, and inpatient facilities for those suffering from psychotic disorders and substance abuse.  Find ways to meet the needs of these individuals and their families.  Start mercy ministries to reach out to these groups.  Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for him.

2. GET INVOLVED CIVICALLY.
Get involved on local boards, the city council, or set up a meeting with our mayor to find out specifics of what our city needs.  Once those needs are discovered, spread the word at the Metro and get your community group involved in meeting those needs.  Find out if your neighborhood has association meetings, get involved, and volunteer to make your neighborhood and city better.

3. THROW PARTIES AND INVITE YOUR NEIGHBORS.
Throw full-blown block parities or just have some neighbors over for dinner.  Due to the transient nature of our area many neighbors don’t even know each other.  Sometimes all it takes is to initiate by invitation!

4. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CITY’S ENVIRONMENT.
Find out how to adopt a local highway.  Organize weekly trash clean up around your neighborhood.  Get your kids involved in loving their neighborhood and city by something as simple as putting on gloves, grabbing a bag, and picking up trash.  This is another great activity for community groups to get involved in and a great way to start conversations in your neighborhood about caring for our city’s environment because of what Jesus has done for you.

5. STAY PUT.
According to the most recent studies, most cities have a “revolving door” as people move in and out depending on the job and house market.  Develop roots and settle down.  Fall in love with our city and make it a point to serve Jesus in one place for a long time.  Have long obedience in the same direction with a local body of believers in order to build deeper relationships with the people around us.

6. GIVE A GIFT OF ARTISTRY.
We already have a huge jump on this at the Metro do to Metro(Art).  Keep being creative and making new art.  Get together with others and set it up with the city to create mural in the city.  Find ways to integrate Metro(Art) with different art walks and events that our city has.

7. BE A POSITIVE PRESENCE, NOT A NEGATIVE ONE.
One of the greatest ideas I’ve seen is creating a city or neighborhood blog that tells stories of progress and hope in our city.  If there are problems the city is facing, be a part of finding a solution rather than just complaining.  Find ways to serve in the betterment of our city.

8. PARTICIPATE IN AND HELP PLAN AND EXECUTE YOUR CITY’S EVENTS AND FESITVALS.
It’s completely ok to have fun!  Enjoying our city and investing in its happiness is great way to show how you love it.  Rogers and Bentonville both have festivals throughout the year.  Find ways to get involved.  See if your community group can volunteer their man-hours to clean up after events to save our city money and to show how much we care as a church.

9. START MINISTRIES THAT ADDRESS YOUR CITY’S SPECIFIC FELT OR UNSEEN NEEDS.
Find ways to connect your business friends with a business ministry that gives them a way to live out the Gospel in business.  Figure out how to help the homeless in our areas.  Help those who are fostering our city’s children.

10. LEADERS ARE READERS.
Subscribe to the newspaper.  Watch your local news.  Stay on top of current events in our city.  Study our city’s history so that you can understand the events that shaped our current culture.  Be missional in your thinking as you actively seek out more knowledge pertaining to the city God has placed us in (Acts 17).

11. PRAY FOR YOU CITY.
God really does answer pray and he tells us that the “prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  Pray that God would change our city.  Pray that he would save its citizens.  Pray that he would give wisdom to our leaders.  Remember that our city’s well-being is your well-being.

*These ways to love our city were based off an article written by Tim Gaydos

I have been searching for a bible and curriculum that agreed with the theology of the Metro for years and this is the first one I have found that included everything I have been looking for. Just this month the publishers released a curriculum that is based on this bible. I am beyond excited to start using this with our kids. Each week we will be learning a new story and how that story reveals Jesus. There will be a scripture to memorize as well. And also a take home paper. I again encourage you to purchase a copy for your family. This is a great way to tie in what the kids are learning at church with what you are teaching them at home.

If you need any help finding this Bible or have any questions about what we have going on please look me up.

http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com/

Worship is a commandment from God. The term and examples of worship are mentioned thousands of times throughout all of scripture. In Exodus 20:2, God specifically states to “have no other Gods before Me.” Luke 19:40 says “”I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Psalm 5:7 says, “7But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and mercy; I will worship toward and at Your holy temple in reverent fear and awe of You.” No where in scripture does it mention that in order to worship you must raise your hands, be moved to tears, or have that good feeling inside. Instead, the Bible teaches us that every part of our lives is worship. Every day tasks are either worship to Jesus, or not. There really is no gray area. The question is what or who are we worshipping.

If as leaders and Christians we view this term of worship as a pronoun for our lives rather than a verb, we see our true depravity and need for Christ. If humans are only built to worship, that would give the understanding that we can turn it on/off or simply not do it. However, humans are worshipers and constantly are worshiping something. The problem is that “All have fallen short of the glory of God” as Romans 3:23 says. We worship so many other things besides the One True Creator and this happens throughout services all around the country every Sunday.

Thinking on this mountain top experience that we often seek and basing a service on whether it takes place or not, do we ever stop to think that maybe we are not worshiping God during these times but rather the response of man instead? Tough words to swallow. Again, none of the reactions in a service mentioned above are bad, but can sometimes be forced or faked. As Kyle Campos describes, “the church and its leaders get fixated on these experiences and how to create these without focusing on what God is doing presently.” I encourage you to search your heart and base the quality of worship that we give Christ entirely off of scripture and Christ will lead the response of our hearts. God uses His Word to teach man how to correctly worship Him. Wouldn’t we want to worship properly the One who created us as worshipers after all?

I try to be an optimist.

Others within our community (with the last name of either Swart or Golden) might try to dissuade you from this truth, but hey, no one listens to them anyway. And now that the obligatory jab at my best friends is over, on to the discussion of being a music optimist.

See my father isn’t a musical optimist, he shares the sentiment that many people have; that there are only 13 notes, and sooner or later, there isn’t going be any new ways to organize them. And that all the good ways to arrange those 13 notes ended somewhere around 1982.  It’s a genuine argument and concern for music. But the one thing I’ve learned from working for Journey and watching Neal Schon play guitar every night, you can play those 13 notes in exactly (I’ve counted) eleventy-billion different ways during a 90 minute set. [1]

And I fall into that trap too, “Modern rock doesn’t hold a candle to what was in the early 90′s.” [2]

But I’m wrong, for there is an unbelievable amount of great music out these days.  And I wanted to introduce you to a few of them.

DISCLAIMER
This in no way is a definitive list of what is good.  Just a sample of what I can’t get away from these days.  Also-these are in no order whatsoever, probably just the result of whatever song I was listening to as I finished one and ready to move on to the next band/artist.

Bon Iver-Bon Iver (pron: “bon e-vair”)
iTunes Link
This record has really changed almost everything I know and thought I liked about music.  The songs don’t really follow a verse, chorus, bridge structure; they feature a guy singing falsetto, sax solos, etc.  Holy cow, sounds horrible right?!  Could not be more wrong.  Justin Vernon [4] writes with something eating away at his insides, and I’m for one, blessed to have found his music and part of the demise.  By far the best album of 2011, and is in my top 5 favorite albums ever.  Big statement, but 100% true.

Top 3 songs
1. Perth
2. Calgary
3. Holocene

The Civil Wars-Barton Hollow [5]
iTunes Link
This is the perfect marriage of a female & male voice.  (Sorry Lionel & Diana). It’s an album that is simple, but perfect in its songwriting.  Innocent and bitter truthfulness coat the record from start to finish. [6] Guys, seriously get this and dance with your wife while this album plays.  You will be doing yourself a huge favor.

Top 3 songs
1. Poison & Wine
2. I’ve Got This Friend
3.  Tie-Dance Me Till The End of Love (cover)
3b.       Billy Jean (cover) [7]

FOOTNOTES:

[0] Threw you off with this one, didn’t I.  Backstage writing a portion of this, and Foreigner was playing it.  Sidenote, I love Foreigner so much.  Or as I refer to them on tour, “The Barry White, for white boys.” Just listen to:This  & This
Pure hand-holding music right there.

[1] Yes, this is the guy who pays all of my bills.  I know, I know.

[2] Case in point – astutely pointed out by Andy Swart. 97% of the music played on 104.9 “Modern Rock-the X” in NWA was written between 1992-1997. Not so “modern.”

[3] Pre-creepy (as far as we know) Michael Jackson was incredible.  Really was the total package. Still gets me everytime.

[4] Bon Iver is really one guy named Justin Vernon.  Don’t know why he called this project “Bon Iver” and admits that he has been called “Bon” so many times in interviews. Watch at the 3:45 mark, Stephen Colbert has a great take on the name.

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Civil_Wars

[6] The subject matter of track #2 (I’ve Got This Friend) is a story about trying to find a date for “a friend of theirs” that they describe back and forth the entire song. When it’s OBVIOUS that they are describing themselves.  Oh clever songwriting about pre-internet, high school love, I like you.

[7] This is  about as close to pure-perfection as you can get.

So what exactly is an idol?

Ken Sande defines an idol as “not simply a statue of wood, stone, or metal; it is anything we love and pursue in place of God, and can also be referred to as a ‘false god’ or a ‘functional god.’ In biblical terms, an idol is something other than God that we set our hearts on ( Luke 12:29; 1 Cor. 10:6), that motivates us (1 Cor. 4:5), that masters or rules us (Ps. 119:133), or that we serve (Matt. 6:24).”

The problem with identifying idols is that they can be good things that we turn into god things. That’s the complexity of it all. We can so clearly see idols in others’ lives, especially when they are morally or socially taboo. The difficulty in our own lives is identifying these things that are often good, noble endeavors that are a sin to us, but not necessarily to others. This can range from working out, education, marriage, financial stability, sex, occupation, children, knowledge, or even church activities.
C.J. Mahaney gives us several practical means of identifying idols in our lives:

1. SCRIPTURE

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

2. HOLY SPIRIT


“The heart is deceitful above all things…Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind…:” Jeremiah 17:9-10 
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

3. CHURCH

“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” Proverbs 27:5 
“What is the friend, who will be a real blessing to my soul? Is it one, that will humour my fancies, and flatter my vanity? Is it enough, that he loves my person, and would spend his time and energies in my service? This comes far short of my requirement…The friend for my case is one, who will watch over me with open rebuke; but a reprover, when needful; not a flatterer. The genuineness of friendship without this mark is more than doubtful; its usefulness utterly paralyzed. That secret love, that dares not risk a faithful wound, and spares rebuke, rather than inflict pain, judged by God’s standard, is hatred. (Lev. 19:17) Far better the wound should be probed than covered. Rebuke, kindly, considerately, and prayerfully administered, cements friendship, rather than loosens its. The contrary instances only prove, that the union had never been based upon substantial principle.” Charles Bridges 
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1

4. CIRCUMSTANCES

Tests of adversity and prosperity reveal our idols. James 1:2-4;9-11 
“But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…” 2 Corinthians 1:9

5. BEHAVIOR

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious…” Galatians 5:19
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5
John shows us the seriousness of idols by summarizing his entire epistle with the closing line, “keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Let us be a people that identify and crush the idols in our own lives so that Jesus gets much glory!