The Most Dangerous Cancer!

We can even learn from comic strips: Dagwood & Blondie:

Blondie looking in mirror at new dress with Dagwood and sales woman standing behind. Blondie: "What do you think of this dress, honey?" Dagwood: "Too expensive!" Blondie: "And what do you think?" Sales Woman: "You should definitely buy it!" Blondie: "Sold!" Blondie at register getting box and says: "See how important a second opinion is?"

We can always find someone to justify our actions! Even if it is only one person…the one in the mirror! Whenever we allow the “number 1” slot in our heart to be filled with anything other than God, we are in trouble. It quickly becomes a “cancer” to our soul. We don’t call that idolatry many times because it does not involve statues of gold, stone or wood. 

Idolatry has nothing to do with objects and everything to do with the condition of our heart…the objects are just the symptom to a far greater problem. As we go through this section we will discover some clear consequences of allowing our heart to open up to idolatry.

Judges 18:3-13 When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?” He said to them, “Thus and so has Micah done to me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest.” They said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous.” The priest said to them, “Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the Lord’s approval.” Then the five men departed and came to Laish and saw the people who were in it living in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was no ruler humiliating them for anything in the land, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. When they came back to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers said to them, “What do you report?” They said, “Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you sit still? Do not delay to go, to enter, to possess the land. “When you enter, you will come to a secure people with a spacious land; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.” Then from the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out. They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day; behold, it is west of Kiriath-jearim. They passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

Interestingly, these Danites recognize this Levite. How? Scripture does not say, perhaps by previous acquaintance, he might be a well know priest, or maybe they only recognize that he was a Levite. Since it was his voice that they identified, it is possible he had an accent that all Levites had. I know from living in the Philippines, that Filipinos can tell where each other have come from based on the accent in their Tagalog. I can’t hear it, but they can. 

They ask this Levite what he was doing there and why. He tells them what Micah had done for him. This is the first affect of idolatry:

#1 Your most important question becomes: What is in it for me?

As we move from loving the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we discover the “other trinity” - Me, Myself and I!

Amazingly, these Israelites have become so callous, after hearing what this Levite is doing…which they should know is unscriptural…they still seek his counsel! This is the second affect of idolatry:

#2 You seek Vindication not Truth!

Like our illustration from Blondie, you will seek counsel from anybody! Your agenda is to hear what you want, not what reality is.

The Levite’s counsel to the five men is to, “Go in peace, God is with you!” We must ask, where did he get that? He is serving idols! Why would they listen to him?

This again illustrates a major difference between a “call” and a “job.” When you represent God you share His counsel, no matter the consequences. When you have a job, you do what it takes to keep that job! Tell them what will make them happy!

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.

Proverbs 15:14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Proverbs 17:24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

A Call is based on the “master-servant” relationship, a job is based on the "employer-employee” relationship. The difference is huge! A servant considers the one that is served, in this case this Levite is to represent God and His truth, no matter how it would upset the Danites. An employee considers what will secure their job! Very much like the political scene today. Whatever will get the votes…that is where my conscience will land! Is it a wonder that our society is spiritually bankrupt?

Consider a different era when leaders stood by their convictions, even if the votes were not there:

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher  Saturday Evening Post  "Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians, to take counsel together, their purpose is not or should not be, to ascertain what is the mind of the majority but what is the mind of the Holy Spirit - something which may be quite different."

We have 3 more affects to look at, but for now, do a heart check. Are the two most important questions you ask yourself: “Does this please God?” and “What does the Scripture state?” If not, then what are the first questions you ask yourself? Why? Remember, just like a physical tumor, when it is a tumor in your soul, early detection is essential.