Placing our Trust in an Object is Idolatry

Recently, I witnessed someone giving pictures of a man depicting Jesus and a little statue of the same to a lovely Down syndrome child. She was so happy to have these things that she delighted in saying, "I have Jesus." My heart broke when I saw it.

 
This child was being led to believe that believing in Jesus was about idols and things you can see. Children do not need toys and idols to be able to love Jesus Christ. They can be told the stories in the Bible, allowing the Holy Spirit to reach them for Him.

I don't judge the heart of the person who gave out these idols, but I do question his spiritual immaturity when he cannot see that objects detract from the gospel.
Causing a child to believe in an object she can see will diminish her walk with Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:7
"7 For we walk by faith, not by sight."

An elderly lady many years ago told me that looking at a picture of a man depicting Christ helped her faith when she gazed upon it. I shared gently with her that the man in the picture was not Christ, but in fact was an idol that she placed her trust in rather than Christ.

 
If my husband looked longingly at picture of a woman who was not me but called her by my name, I would be offended.

 
I am convinced Christ came in a time when there was no such thing as photos because people would tend to worship the object rather than Him.
Trusting in Christ by faith, means "without seeing."

Romans 4:2-3 "…2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

 
Galatians 3:6
"So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 1:17
"For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 10:10
"For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved."

Faith is following what we cannot see, but know is true in our hearts. The lesser faith is the one that has to see something with their physical eyes. The greater faith is believing in Christ even when we cannot see Him.

Growing Together in Holiness

No person completes another person. Only Christ can complete us and make us whole again. If we seek people to validate us we will be disappointed.

 
Not only can we not be the validation for others, we cannot complete them. The best way to be helpful to those we love is to show the truth as given by Christ in the Bible and support their decision to follow Him.

Our job is to lead others to Christ and support them when they obey Him.

 
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

 
Hebrews 10:24-25
"24 and let’s consider how to [a]encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

There is no greater help and encouragement than the words of Christ. He is called "The Word"; we can count on everything He teaches to be right and good.

 
Galatians 6:9-10
"Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith."

1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore, encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing."

Philippians 2:3-4
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

1 Corinthians 10:24
"No one should seek his own good, but the good of others."

When we obey Christ and stand firmly on HIs Word that will be a help to others who are seeking Him.

Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

There is no greater blessing than growing together in holiness.