Idolatry in Desire

In one of Piper's recent articles he discussed 12 signs that desire is becoming idolatry. I thought I would share his wise insights.

1. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is forbidden by God.
2. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is disproportionate to the worth of what is desired.
3. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is not permeated with gratitude.
4. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it does not see in God’s gift that God himself is more to be desired than the gift.
5. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is starting to feel like a right, and our delight is becoming a demand.
6. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it draws us away from our duties.
7. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it awakens a sense of pride that we can experience this delight while others can’t.
8. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is oblivious or callous to the needs and desires of others.
9. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it does not desire that Christ be magnified as supremely desirable through the enjoyment.
10. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when it is not working a deeper capacity for holy delight.
11. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when its loss ruins our trust in the goodness of God.
12. Enjoyment is becoming idolatrous when its loss paralyzes us emotionally so that we can’t relate lovingly to other people.

By His Grace,
Taylor