For some people, it's money---the desire to obtain stuff has a draw on all of us, & for some it becomes their ultimate quest. For some, it's power---wanting control, over not just their own life, but over their business world, their family, their friends, & sometimes anything/everything else. For others, it's sex---nothing means more to some people than getting as much carnal pleasure as possible.
Then there's people who simply take good things too far. Some people make their career their god---their purpose in life becomes the hollow pursuit of achievements, promotions, & titles. For others, it's their hobbies---their zeal to enjoy life takes control. And it can be many, many other things...
The problem with making something your god that isn't God is that it skews your perception & priorities, & gets in the way of more important things. Most notably God, of course. But when we place something at as high a level as God, to become a god itself, we start sacrificing so many things for it, when it's really not something that deserves so much sacrifice & devotion. And all the other important elements of our lives suffer when we over-prioritize something that much.
Sadly, far too many people make something else their god. Even good, caring, God-worshiping people often inadvertently make something else their god, relegating God himself to the back seat. It often starts by genuinely pursuing a good thing---but too much success, or a lack of success, or peer/societal pressure, or other things cause us to focus too much of our energy on something else, even something good, because we don't have what we want, or because things aren't how we think they should be.
I'm a devout believer in God, & I try most days to grow closer to him. But I have to admit, I'm also one of those people who has another god. I won't say what it is, but I will say this much: It's not a bad thing. In fact, it's a very good thing. But it's something so absent in my life, I've let it consume me. I adore it, crave it, covet it, dream about it, glorify it, idolize it, sanctify it, treasure it, weep for it, & virtually worship it... It's something I want, & even deserve, so badly---but not having it just dominates my thoughts. And realizing that doesn't help when it's ultimately such a good thing...
I would simply ask all of you: What is your god? Is it God? Or is it something else? If you've made something else your god, & you really take an honest look at yourself, I think you'll see a lot of imbalance & pain in your life...I certainly do...
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
