Sunday, July 27, 2008

Hero's - Villain's - Mentors and Idols

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Hero's - Villain's - Mentors and Idols
I think it is safe to say that we all have people that we look up to. When we are children, most of us if we have had good childhood look up to our parents. Little girls often say they want to marry their Daddy when they grow up. Little boys may look at a super hero in a comic book and envision that they can leap tall buildings and save the world. When we hit the pre-teen and teen age years those views change and we may shift our focus to rock stars, sports stars, movie stars, a teacher, a friend. We want to be like them, talk, walk and dress like them. In decisions we make we ask ourselves, "which way would they go?" These people become bigger than life because we have put them on a pedestal. We have given them the power to be more than mortal. Hero's were originally defined in Greek mythology as the combination of mortal and a deity. We have redefined it in more modern times to be someone that possesses courage in the face danger. We've even given the "Hero" title to someone that does something we are afraid to step out and do ourselves.
God says we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. Phil 4:13
So what happens when we put these people on the pedestal? We set ourselves up for heartache and failure. When these people or person does not perform to our expectation, we feel let down. Only God is perfect.
The Bible says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
We are hurt so we make them out to be some kind of Villain that is maliciously trying to hurt us. We can even take on this martyr attitude and role for months or years or lifetimes. Whoa is me, everyone lets me down I can't trust anyone.
The problem is not them - the problem is us. We put these people in a position they didn't belong and never could fulfill. Only God can be our sufficiency. We have allowed ourselves to Idolize someone or something that can never provide the counsel or protection that we can receive from our heavenly Father. Mentors can be a good thing. Persons that can teach us or lead or mold our behavior towards goals, but it needs to be in balance.
Matt 6:33 says: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Next time you look up to someone - Look up to God. Look up His word. Redefine who you want to be by who God wants you to be.
Be Blessed,
Lynn

5 comments:

From the Heart said...

Lynn, Another great post. I have to be careful because I tend to expect people to do what they say they will do and when they don't I get really upset. I know that I need to pray for them and just let God take complete control in all situations. Maybe I did not need to get or hear what that person promised.
Thanks, AliceE.

Karen said...

Thank you Lynn for posting this. It is easy to rely too much on people we love and admire, and expect them to fill our every need. I think in marriage, this is one of the first and strongest disillusionments we face. We want for our spouses to be all to us and we want to be all to them, but people can never be all to any one; spouses for each other, parents for their kids, BFF for each other, heroes, and on it goes... Thank you for reminding us the God is sufficient to meet our needs (2 Corinthians 12:9).

- Karen in CA

Plant Lady said...

Great post Lynn!

I will try to have the book and be ready to start the study by Aug. 4.

Blessings~
Plant Lady

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

Good Post!
God never intended for us to be attached to anyone but HIM.

Sallye said...

Lynn, great insight. Sadly we have all at one time or another have had someone that we placed on a pedestal, then throw a fit when they fall off. Like you said. Only God can be our sufficienty. He loves us so completly, how sad that it is not enough.

Sallye