We live in a world with endless things vying for our attention, many of which can subtly start to edge God out of our lives. Anything that holds more of our focus and devotion than God himself has the potential to become a “god” in our lives—and eventually, a dysfunctional one.
Here are seven common idols that often take the place of the one true God in our lives. While these aren’t inherently wrong (many are gifts), they become a problem when they dominate our time, energy, or affections.
1) Money – The God of Wealth
Money is powerful and can do good in the world, but it becomes dangerous when it consumes us. If your life’s purpose starts revolving around income and financial gain, it’s easy for money to take God’s place in your life.
Reflect: Does money have a hold on you, or are you free to give it away when God calls you to? Has money taken God’s place in your life?
2) Time – The Idol We Overlook
Time is precious, and God calls us to use it wisely. Many people, even those in ministry, find themselves overworking—leaving little time for family, rest, or service. Our schedules can become so packed that we have little left for God.
Ask yourself: If God called you to step away from your daily routine to serve or spend time with Him, could you? Or would the demands of time keep you from answering?
3) Career – The Path That Can Take Over
Our careers offer us purpose, achievement, and, for some, identity. But a career should serve our lives and not be our whole lives. Some marriages crumble under the weight of one spouse’s career obsession, leaving little room for relationships or God.
Reflect: If you had to choose, would your career or your faith come first? Are you trusting your career for security, or trusting God?
4) Things – The Allure of Materialism
Materialism is a trap many fall into—using possessions to fill spiritual or emotional voids. Our culture tells us to buy more, collect more, upgrade more. But when we start filling the emptiness inside with things, we’re letting those things act as “gods” in our lives.
Ask: Are you buying things to satisfy a need that only God can fill? Are your possessions an expression of His provision, or have they taken His place in your heart?
5) Technology – The Modern-Day Golden Calf
Technology was made to enhance life, but it can easily take over. When we need the latest device or spend hours each day updating statuses, scrolling, or checking notifications, we risk making technology our god. Technology can be a great tool for God’s kingdom, but it’s a poor replacement for Him.
Pause and ask: Is technology helping you connect with God and others, or is it isolating you from real-life relationships? Has technology taken on a bigger role than it should?
6) Your Spouse – The Relational Idol
It’s natural to love our spouses deeply, but when we look to them for purpose, identity, or fulfillment, we risk setting them up as idols. Spouses, like anyone else, are imperfect, and it’s unfair to expect them to meet needs that only God can fill. Ephesians 5 calls spouses to mutual love and respect, not dependency.
Reflect: Do you love and serve your spouse, or have they become your main source of fulfillment? Are you putting God first in your marriage?
7) Kids – The Idol Closest to the Heart
For many parents, especially moms, kids easily become the center of life. We pour our time and energy into them, but if we let them consume us, our whole house can fall out of balance. Children need loving guidance, but they don’t thrive when they become the “god” of the family.
Consider: Is parenting drawing you closer to God, or has it taken His place in your life?
Reclaiming God’s Place
These seven areas are just a few examples of things that can subtly replace God as the center of our lives. If you feel ready to make a change, invite God back into the driver’s seat. Ask Him for wisdom to show you where you might be placing something else above Him. Ask for courage to let go of these gods and trust Him to fill those spaces in a lasting way.
Reclaiming God’s place doesn’t mean giving up these areas but rather letting them align with His purpose for you. When God is first, the rest of life falls into place. Embrace the true peace, purpose, and freedom that come from a life inspired by Him.
Living a God-Inspired Life
Chris Benton