Ezekiel 14:2-3: “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?”
In the days of Ezekiel, the people of Israel found themselves in deep rebellion against God. On the surface, they still sought God’s guidance through the prophet, but God saw through their outward actions into their hearts. The problem wasn’t just the physical idols they may have worshiped, but the idols in their hearts—things that had taken the place of God in their affections and trust. These idols were stumbling blocks, pulling them further away from the one true God.
What Were the Idols of Their Hearts?
When God spoke to Ezekiel, He wasn’t only referring to statues or images. The people of Israel had placed things like wealth, power, and personal pleasure above their loyalty to God. They were more interested in satisfying their own desires than in obeying the LORD. Some worshiped foreign gods like Baal, hoping for prosperity. Others were consumed with their own status and position, doing whatever it took to rise in the ranks of society. For many, life’s comforts and personal ambitions were more important than following God’s commandments. God was clear: these idols had created a barrier between Him and His people, making it impossible for them to sincerely seek Him. Their outward appearance of religion was empty because their hearts were far from God.
Heart Idols Christians Face Today
While we may not bow down to physical statues today, the idols of our hearts can still be just as dangerous. Christians face many of the same temptations the Israelites did, and it’s important to examine ourselves to see if we’ve allowed anything to take God’s rightful place in our lives. Today, Christians can idolize things such as career, success, materialism, entertainment, pleasure, relationships, and even self-reliance or pride. These things, while not bad in themselves, can easily become idols if we let them take the place of God in our hearts.
Five New Testament Tests for Heart Idols
The New Testament provides us with clear ways to test our hearts to see if we have allowed idols to take hold:
1. What do you treasure? (Matthew 6:19-21)
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Ask yourself: What do I value most? Is it God, or is it something temporary? What you treasure reveals where your heart truly lies.
2. What do you love most? (Matthew 22:37-38)
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
If anything else—possessions, people, or pleasures—takes up more of our love than God, it has become an idol.
3. Where do you find your security? (Matthew 6:31-33)
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Do you trust in your job, finances, or other resources for your sense of security? Jesus teaches us not to worry about material things but to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that He will provide for us.
4. Who are you trying to please? (Galatians 1:10)
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
If your goal is to impress people more than to honor God, you may have a heart idol.
5. What do you think about most? (Colossians 3:2)
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
What dominates your thoughts? Are you constantly thinking about worldly things, or do you focus on the things of God?
Heart idols are a serious issue that can easily creep into our lives if we’re not careful. Just like the people in Ezekiel’s day, we might outwardly seek God but inwardly allow other things to take His place. Whether it’s career, possessions, entertainment, or relationships, anything that takes priority over God is a stumbling block to our spiritual growth. Let’s examine our hearts and ensure that nothing comes before God in our lives, remembering the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
