Just-in-Case Idols 以防万一的偶像
Dexu Xia
Just-in-Case Idols
They have followed other gods to serve them. Jeremiah 11:10
Sam checks his retirement account twice each day. He saved for thirty years, and with the boost of a rising stock market, finally has enough to retire. As long as stocks don’t plunge. This fear keeps Sam worrying about his balance.
Jeremiah warned about this: “You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem” (11:13).
Judah’s idolatry is remarkable. They knew the Lord was God. How could they worship anyone else? They were hedging their bets. They needed the Lord for the afterlife, because only the true God could raise them from the dead. But what about now? Pagan gods promised health, wealth, and fertility, so why not pray to them too, just in case?
Can you see how Judah’s idolatry is also our temptation? It’s good to have talent, education, and money. But if we’re not careful, we might shift our confidence to them. We know we’ll need God when we die, and we’ll ask Him to bless us now. But we’ll also lean on these lesser gods, just in case.
Where is your trust? Back-up idols are still idols. Thank God for His many gifts, and tell Him you’re not relying on any of them. Your faith is riding entirely on Him.
What good thing are you tempted to turn into an idol? How might you use this gift while still depending fully on God?
Father, all my hope is in You. Help me trust in You alone, not in my abilities and assets.
以防万一的偶像
他们……随从别神，事奉他。—耶利米书11章10节
阿山伯每天都要查看他的退休帐户两次。他储蓄了30年，因为股市在涨，所以他终于存够退休金了，但前提是股票绝不能大跌。这让阿山总是对帐户里的金额不放心。
先知耶利米对此提出警告：“犹大啊，你神的数目与你城的数目相等；你为那可耻的巴力所筑烧香的坛，也与耶路撒冷街道的数目相等。”（耶利米书11章13节）犹大的偶像崇拜让人讶异。他们知道上帝是掌管一切的主，为何还去崇拜其他神祇？他们是在分散赌注。他们知道死后需要上帝，因为唯有真神上帝能使他们从死里复活。但他们此生该倚靠谁呢？既然异教的神祇承诺给予健康、财富以及多子多孙，何不干脆也向异教的神祇祷告，以防万一呢？
犹大百姓敬拜偶像的心态，是否也是我们的试探呢？拥有才干、学历、钱财，固然是好事，但若稍不留意，我们可能就会转而依靠这些事物。我们知道自己离世之后需要上帝，我们也会祈求上帝现在就赐福，但我们也可能会依靠其他神祇或事物，以防万一。
你所信靠的是谁呢？以防万一的备胎偶像仍然是偶像。让我们以感恩的心数算上帝所赐的许多恩典，并且告诉祂，我们所仰赖的并非这些好处，而是完全单单信靠祂。
亲爱的天父，我所有的盼望都在乎祢。求祢帮助我单单信靠祢，而不是仰赖自己的能力与资产。
你会将所拥有的哪个美好事物视为偶像呢？
当你明白这是上帝所赐，你会如何使用这项恩典呢？