Why People Worship God’s Gifts Instead of the Giver

Summary

People worship God’s gifts instead of the Giver because of spiritual blindness, self-centered desires, and rebellion against God’s authority. When God’s restraining grace is rejected, idols rooted in glory, benefit, pleasure, power, and comfort take His place. Scripture reveals that idolatry leads to captivity and moral decay. True worship restores God to the center, where He alone deserves devotion, obedience, and glory.

Why People Worship God's Gifts

Why do people worship God’s gifts instead of the Giver? Spiritual blindness and choice both play a part. Let’s unravel the two as we consider why people worship idols.

Spiritual Blindness and Hardened Hearts

Idolatry is a symptom of a hardened heart. God warns us, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7b NLT). We are responsible for the condition of our hearts.

God judges with spiritual blindness those who persist in choosing to overvalue people, places, or things at His expense. They can’t perceive their stupidity (Isaiah 6:9-10, 44:12-17, 2 Corinthians 4:4).

When God Withdraws Restraining Grace

God blinds by withdrawing His restraining grace. When that grace operates, it prevents humanity from being as bad as possible. When it doesn’t, life quickly spirals downward.

When God withdraws His grace, He turns people over to the untreated cancer of their evil desires. His grace’s radiation no longer limits its spread. It grows explosively.

In addition, He no longer lessens the world’s and the devil’s evil influences in their idolatrous lives. He allows them to be and do what they want. That isn’t a blessing.

The Demonic Roots of Idolatry

Idolatry has demonic dimensions. Demons celebrate all worship not directed toward the God of the Bible. Their power underlies all non-Christian religions.

 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). 

Demons influence people to live for something, anything other than God. Some of these God-substitutes are widely considered virtuous. But they aren’t because God gets no glory.

Glory and Benefit as False Gods

People seek glory. They overvalue whatever aligns with their desires to glorify themselves and get what they want.

For example, a young man might be utterly devoted to football, expecting to make a name for himself, receive headlines on the sports page, and earn a college scholarship. The desire for glory is his idol. By contrast, Christians glorify God by serving Him and others. They serve Him because of who He is, not for any glory they might receive.

People naturally overvalue things and undervalue God. They expect to benefit from worshipping created things (Numbers 15:39).

Some wrongly think worshipping other gods protects them from the wrath of those gods (1 Corinthians 8:4). What cultural gods influence us more than our Christian faith does? Pleasure? Power? Comfort?

Before Rachel left her home, she stole her father Laban’s household gods. She expected advice and protection from them. (Genesis 31:19).

Pleasure-Seeking as a False God

Israelite men indulged in sexual immorality with Moabite women. Soon they worshipped their gods as well. They compromised God’s values to justify their desire for pleasure (Numbers 25:1-2).

In the last days, some professing believers will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4). They will spend more time and money on pleasure than on God’s work. The last days have already arrived.

Power-Seeking as a False God

People seek power over others and worship powerful things and people. That could include cars, boats, sports heroes, movie stars, music celebrities, and money. None of them is as trustworthy or powerful as the God who made them.

Comfort-Seeking as a False God

People worship what comforts them. The LORD is our comforting Shepherd (Psalm 23). Beware of substituting comforting religious authorities, rituals, and traditions for God.

Worshipping God should change us and make us more Christlike. If it doesn’t, we’re worshipping the wrong things. True Christianity comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.

Rebellion Against God

Idolaters replace God with themselves as the center of the universe, even though He created and sustains them. They don’t want to submit to a higher authority. They reject His will, ways, and perspective. Rampant immorality follows (Romans 1:21–23). Avoiding idol worship is critical.

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