So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashteroths, and served the Lord only. 1 Samuel 7:4
Israel had finally grown weary. The people decided that seeking after the Lord was better than living as each one saw fit. Samuel challenged the people to rid themselves of the foreign gods they had worshipped for so long; the people turned back to God and served Him only.
Interestingly, this passage does not say the people destroyed the foreign gods. It merely says they "put away their Baals and Ashteroths."
Now, wait a minute.
"Put away"?
When I hear these words, my mind thinks of putting something in its proper storage place. Why didn't the writer say they "rid themselves of" or they "destroyed" the Baals and Ashteroths? To simply say they "put away" these things tells me that these gods were tucked away in some closet somewhere. To serve God only, aren't we supposed to purge the sinful things that we worship?
This raises an interesting question. Should an idol be destroyed, or can it merely be put away? Inanimate objects are not inherently evil. The only thing that makes them sinful is the value we place upon them. An individual may spend all his time worshipping a television set; does it mean he should remove it from his house altogether? Can a person who worships food stop eating? Should a person who struggles with sex become a celibate? God doesn't usually call us to ascetic lives. He calls us to follow Him - to place our highest value on our relationship with His Son.
Jesus, help me to put away the things that keep me from You. Some things should be destroyed. Some things can be put in their proper place. Help me to serve You only. Be real to me today.