Finding Freedom from the Idol of Comfort
In our modern world, comfort has become something we can’t seem to live without. From air conditioning set at the perfect temperature to Amazon two-day shipping, from caffeine to sound machines – we’ve surrounded ourselves with conveniences that make life easier. But what happens when our desire for comfort becomes more than a preference and transforms into an idol?
What Makes Something an Idol in Our Lives?
An idol is a lie we live by. It’s not something we consciously decide to worship – it’s often subtle lies that, over time, form not only how we live but what we worship. Idolatry is at the root of every sin, as we believe the falsehood that placing anything in the position meant only for God is somehow good for us.
The Bible addresses this issue directly. In Exodus 20, the first two commandments God gives to Moses are clear: have no other gods before Him and don’t make idols. These weren’t arbitrary rules – God knew humanity’s tendency to take things less than God and put them in God’s place.
How Quickly We Turn to Idols When Uncomfortable
The story of the Israelites demonstrates how quickly we can turn to idols when our comfort is threatened. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, the people stood at Mount Sinai in God’s presence. Their response wasn’t joy or peace, it was fear. They were so uncomfortable with God’s direct presence that they asked Moses to speak to God on their behalf.
When Moses went up the mountain to receive God’s law, he was gone for about a month. In that short time, the people grew impatient and uncomfortable with the uncertainty. They approached Aaron, Moses’ right-hand man, and asked him to build them an idol – a golden calf they could worship.
This reveals a profound truth: when freedom starts to feel like suffering, we will run back to slavery. When our freedom in Christ becomes uncomfortable, we often retreat to the familiar slavery of idolatry, believing something else can satisfy us in the way only God can.
How Comfort Becomes an Idol in Modern Life
As Michael Easter notes in his book “The Comfort Crisis,” Americans now spend about 93% of our time indoors in climate control. Most of the modern comforts we enjoy have only existed for about 100 years or less. Yet as we experience fewer problems, we don’t become more satisfied – we simply lower our threshold for what we consider a problem.
This is particularly dangerous because Jesus himself warned us: “In this world you will have trouble.” When we make comfort our idol, we set ourselves up for disappointment and spiritual stagnation.
How Comfort Idolatry Affects Our Church Experience
The idol of comfort doesn’t just affect our personal lives – it can infiltrate our church experience too. We develop preferences about worship styles, service times, building aesthetics, and countless other details. While preferences themselves aren’t sinful, they become problematic when they take center stage in our hearts.
When someone comes to us as a brother or sister in Christ wanting to embrace and enjoy life together, what do they encounter? Do they meet Christ at the center of our hearts, or do they meet our preferences and comforts?
Consider these common comfort idols in church:
- Wishing the sermon was shorter (or longer)
- Preferring certain music styles
- Wanting service at a different time
- Preferring different seating arrangements
- Having strong opinions about building aesthetics
When we walk into church with comfort at the center, what does the world see? Are they met with Christ, or are they met with comfortable Christianity that says, “Keep your problems outside”?
What Does God Say About Our Idols?
In Revelation 1, John encounters the risen Jesus with eyes blazing like fire and a voice like rushing waters. John’s response? “I fell at his feet as though dead.” Being in God’s presence was overwhelming, not comfortable.
Jesus’ response was compassionate: “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. I am the living one. I was dead and now look, I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys to death and Hades.”
Later, in Revelation 3:19, Jesus says, “Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” The word “earnest” here means passionate. Jesus is calling us to passionately turn away from anything that isn’t Him – including our comfort idols – and run back to Him.
Life Application
The God of the universe is incredibly in love with you. The Creator of everything we see, feel, hear, touch, taste, and smell cares deeply for you. He wants what’s best for you and what’s best is not a life given over to any idol that is less than Him, but a life fully devoted to Jesus.
If you’ve made comfort an idol in your life, Jesus invites you to passionately run away from that sin and back into His arms. Here are some questions to consider this week:
- What comforts have I elevated to an unhealthy place in my life?
- How has my desire for comfort affected my relationship with God and others?
- In what ways have my preferences about church become barriers to experiencing Christ fully?
- What step can I take this week to dethrone comfort and restore Jesus to His rightful place in my heart?
Remember, the issue isn’t having preferences or enjoying comforts – it’s allowing them to take the place where only Jesus belongs. This week, challenge yourself to identify one area where comfort has become an idol, and take a concrete step to put Jesus back at the center.