That’s a good question.

The Subtle Nature of Idolatry

The word “idol” usually conjures up the image of a statue carved from wood, gold or stone. But most idols don’t look like statues—they look like upgrades. They come with horsepower, job titles, applause, granite countertops, or even ego strokes for serving God.

But beneath the surface, idols are quietly robbing us of joy and intimacy with Christ. You see, all idolatry is rooted in unbelief. It’s the deep, often unspoken lie:

“Jesus Christ alone is not enough. I must also have this to be happy.”

An idol—#36 on my alphabetical list of 70 things every man needs to know—is anything that we allow to become the object of our inordinate affection and worship. It’s anything we look to except Jesus Christ for identity, meaning, and ultimate purpose.

If something good has taken God’s place in your heart, it’s time to ask: Is this thing serving me—or ruling me? 

John Calvin famously said that men are “idol factories.” Left unchecked, we manufacture false gods out of almost anything: money, comfort, success, intelligence, entertainment, sex, status, control, or even our children.

Why It Matters

Idolatry is what comes after we believe the lie. And it’s not harmless. James 4:4 calls it what it is: spiritual adultery—a kind of cheating on God by loving the world more than we love Him.

The average American Christian male has made an idol of something that competes with his full surrender to Christ—sometimes more than one. It might be his career, a secret thought life, the quiet addiction to comfort, or the man cave he’s built to escape the chaos of real life. It might even be his physical fitness or intellect.

As C. S. Lewis observed, we are far too easily satisfied with lesser things. And when we pursue them, they never deliver what they promise. That’s the wake-up call: Idols always disappoint. They take but never give any lasting peace. They offer momentary relief but leave us spiritually dry. That’s why a man can be in the middle of a winning streak and still feel empty.

So let me ask you:

• • What’s quietly competing for your heart?
  • What good thing have you allowed to become an ultimate thing?
  • What would you struggle to give up, even if Jesus asked?

These are your reflection and discussion questions for this week. Your answers might just reveal where your deepest affections need to be adjusted.

When Jesus is enough, everything else falls into its proper place. But when He’s not, idols will creep in and steal your affection, slowly but surely, until your soul feels numb and restless.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Lay down your idols and surrender to Jesus. He is enough.

Coming Next Week: What All Great Men of God Have in Common

We’ll unpack why integrity is a one-to-one correlation between your Bible, your belief, and your behavior, and how you can start living that out today.

Much love,

Pat

Reflection & Discussion Questions

1. 1. What’s something in your life that started as a blessing but may have become an idol—something you now look to for meaning, purpose, or comfort?
      (Be honest. What would be hard to give up if God asked for it today?)

   2. How can you tell the difference between a healthy passion and an unhealthy obsession?
      (Where’s the line between enjoying God’s gifts and worshiping them?)

   3. What would it look like to re-center your identity and satisfaction in Christ this week—practically, not just in theory?
      (What’s one step you can take today to put Jesus back in His rightful place in your heart?)

Motivated by his own search for meaning, purpose, and a deeper relationship with God, Patrick Morley started a weekly Bible study in a bar with a handful of guys in 1986—a study that now reaches thousands of men around the world every week. Inspired and challenged by those studies and conversations, he wrote The Man in the Mirror, named one of the 100 most influential books of the 20th century. The deep hunger he saw in men for a more authentic life led him to start Man in the Mirror—a global men’s ministry impacting thousands of churches and millions of men. Widely regarded as a leading authority on men’s issues, Patrick has written 22 books and more than 750 articles—all focused on helping men solve their most compelling problems. His books have been translated into numerous languages and printed in 48 countries. “The ministry of Man in the Mirror exists,” says Patrick Morley, “in answer to the prayers of all those wives, mothers, and grandmothers who have for decades been praying for the men in their lives.” Patrick graduated from the University of Central Florida, earned a PhD in management, completed postgraduate studies at Harvard Business School and Oxford University, and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary. He and his wife live in Winter Park, Florida. They have two married children and five grandchildren.

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