Gold-Bug

Aug.19

Read: Judges 8:22-34

Goldbug

“And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil…(and) Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.”

The worship of material goods will only become a “snare” to you and your family. The “trinkets” that we run after and long for have NO LIFE in and of themselves. Our “things” can only be enjoyed when they are put into correct perspective alongside the Lord. All that we have belongs to HIM: “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Gideon longed for the spoils of war and upon receiving them he fashioned them into an “ephod”... a trophy...something he would put on display for others to be impressed by… for them to worship. In doing so, Gideon went from an idol BREAKER to an idol MAKER in a very short order. (cf. Judges 6:28-35)

The draw of the material world and wealth is strong. It truly is a “snare” to us and those we love. It has the ability to make us into “whores” who will hand over our bodies… do whatever it takes… to worship at the alter of all that is “shiny and gold”. (Look at how it says that Israel “whored” after a golden idol.) In the people’s new found freedom from Midian, they decided to enslave themselves again to the worship of this ephod / idol. The traded one type of oppression / slavery for another. This is yet another liability when one receives blessing without responsibility and “weight”. Gideon did not want the responsibility of pointing the people to God… and in the end not only did he avoid that responsibility…but he actually did the OPPOSITE! Gideon was a part of leading the people astray.

When we avoid responsibility, clamor after gold / riches, and then flaunt what we have - ie. “put on display in our city” - we run the risk of leading ourselves and others AWAY from the Lord. Living this way simply sets up a trap for us, our families, our kids, and our kid’s kids. When you look back on what the “ephod” was, you will see that it was worn by a special priest as a part of them preparing to serve the Lord. (cf.Ex. 28:6-35) The material things we have are there to prepare us to carry out the work of the Lord… we “wear” what we have been given in HIS service. When we simply set it up for people to come look at...treat it like a trophy to be flaunted or a widget to be collected... and do not use it in the service of the Lord then it stops being a blessing and becomes a pitfall. As the people of God, may we never “whore” after the things of this world or become “ensnared” by all the glimmer and gold! God has raised up for us a rescuer and deliverer in Jesus. He has set us FREE. When he blesses us richly may we wear it in his service. Love you guys! - JDP