My Daily Encounter With Buddha

I daily encounter Buddha. My next door neighbors on both sides are friendly, kind to the children and I truly love my neighbors BUT... the man next door has built a pond with a pretty little fountain and beside the pond he has placed a rather large statue of Buddha. This statue has crossed arms, a pointy head and he happens to be a straight shot out my kitchen window - so daily I am encountering Buddha!

Normally when I look out the window I notice the birds, squirrels, flowers and sunrise. Then this Buddha statue arrived and began to taunt me each morning. I briefly discussed Buddha with the neighbor man while my children listened intently. Once inside, I read to the children out of Exodus 20 where we are given the ten commandments. Commandment #1: "You shall have no other God's before me." Commandment #2:"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."

Are you daily encountering a Buddha in your life? You see in America we don't think we are idol worshipers but an idol is anything you place before God. What is your idol? Could it be your children, your husband, your identity, appearance, clothes, house, car or a sport? What do you trust in more than God - could it be your family, money, or your job? What sort of sacrifices are you willing to make for your idol? Whatever is getting the most of your time and resources could potentially be your idol.

Is there something that you habitually are drawn to that controls your emotions? When the number is low on the scale you are happy. When the number is high on the scale you are sad. When the kids behave well you are happy. When the kids don't behave you are sad. When you get to go shopping you are happy. When you have to stay home you are sad. Is there something that you have built your life on that if it fails you will be destroyed. For some - getting a baby or a spouse is their savior. They seek it with all their might because they believe it will give them meaning and purpose rather than finding that in God alone.

Mark Driscoll says "we worship our way into sin, and we have to worship our way out." In many churches, we chase all the problems people have and try to help them solve their troubles in the areas of marriage, food, money, alcohol, addictions etc. but the root problem is idolatry!

Often times we create mini-idols in our life and anything that comes before God will lead us into sin. So the only escape is to turn our eyes back to God and worship him alone. If money has a grip on you - begin to give it away - break that grip. If the scale has a grip on you - throw it away. If your stomach is your god, turn to God for comfort and stop eating comfort foods - the Holy Spirit is the only true comforter. If the television has a grip on you - unplug it.

If your children have a grip on you - stop worshipping them or they will be spoiled rotten and of no kingdom use! There are stadiums filled with little gods with numbers on their backs and their parents sacrificing everything for them to be the ultimate god in their sport. If you make people your god they will be crushed under the weight of your expectations. They were not created to be our gods and cannot live up to our expectations.

Nothing in all creation should have a tighter grip on you than your hunger and thirst for our Creator. So today I urge you to take a hard look inside yourself and ask yourself - has something replaced God as my idol? That Buddha next door was taunting me - but now it just simply reminds me each day to turn from my own mini-idols and worship the one true God alone.

If you have an extra 3 minutes watch this video made by John Piper's Desiring God Ministries - it goes along perfectly with today's theme.


Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/