What I Learned About Idolatry at the Biggest House on the Lake

Have you ever pursued something so hard, believing it would bring you happiness, only to find it left you feeling empty? That’s the deceptive nature of idolatry—it promises life but ultimately drains it from us.

In this reflection, I share a personal encounter that revealed the stark contrast between chasing after worldly success and living in the fullness of God’s Spirit. Through Scripture, we’ll explore the role of the Holy Spirit—the Paraclete—who imparts life, versus the parasites of idolatry that steal it away.

Jesus promised His followers that they would never be alone. In John 14:16, He says:

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever.”

The word translated as Advocate (or Comforter in some versions) is Paraclete (παράκλητος) in Greek, meaning one who comes alongside to help, counsel, and strengthen. The Holy Spirit is our life-giver, filling us with peace, guidance, and power.

Yet, how often do we attach our hearts to something other than God? When we do, we create idols—things we depend on for security, identity, or fulfillment. And unlike the Holy Spirit, idols do not give life; they drain it.

Idolatry isn’t just about golden statues or carved images. Anything that takes God’s rightful place in our hearts—money, career, relationships, even good things like family—can become an idol. And idols are parasites.

Unlike the Paraclete, who fills us with life, a parasite sucks life from us. Proverbs 11:19 warns:

“Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.” (NLT)

This truth became painfully real to me one day when I attended a party at the biggest house on the lake.

Years ago, I was invited to a cookout at a breathtaking lakeside mansion—the kind of house you admire from afar, thinking, Wow, they must have it all! But as I sat on the patio, speaking with the owner, I quickly realized that behind all the wealth and luxury was a man deeply broken.

When I casually asked if he was moving, since I had noticed a For Sale sign out front, I wasn’t prepared for his response. He turned to me, looked me straight in the eye, and said,

“My whole life has been a waste. This house is just a symbol of it.”

He proceeded to pour out years of regret.

For decades, he had sacrificed everything—his time, health, and family—to build wealth. He missed his children’s childhoods, working endlessly to provide them with a lavish lifestyle. Now, with his company downsizing, he wasn’t even sure he’d have a job much longer.

Then, pointing to his wife chatting in the massive designer kitchen, he confessed:

“The only time she’s happy is when she’s shopping. But no matter what I let her buy, it’s never enough.”

We walked through the house, room after room of extravagant space—most of it completely unused. He sighed and said,

“The rest is meaningless.”

The weight of that word struck me. Meaningless.

It immediately reminded me of King Solomon, who had more wealth, power, and pleasure than anyone in history, yet declared in Ecclesiastes 1:2:

“Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!”

Wealth hadn’t satisfied Solomon. It hadn’t satisfied this man either. Why? Because idols never deliver what they promise.

John D. Rockefeller, once the richest man on earth, was asked, How much money is enough?

His famous answer?

“Just a little bit more.”

That’s the insidious trap of idolatry. No matter how much we have, it never satisfies. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

The problem is not money itself—money is just a tool. The problem is when our hearts attach to it in an unhealthy way.

While money is a common idol, idolatry takes many forms—career, hobbies, even relationships. Shockingly, even children can become idols.

I’ve seen mothers so consumed by their children that their marriages crumble. They pour everything into their kids, neglecting their husbands and losing themselves in the process. Their love, though well-intended, becomes smothering and controlling, ultimately driving their children away.

Proverbs 14:1 speaks directly to this:

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

Anything we place above God—even the best things in life—will eventually turn to dust in our hands.

God’s Loving Surgery

When idolatry takes root in our hearts, God, in His great mercy, often allows us to experience loss—not to harm us, but to free us.

It’s like a surgeon removing cancer. Surgery is painful, but it’s necessary for healing. In the same way, God sometimes strips away our idols so that we can finally be restored to true life in Him.

Think of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham loved his son deeply, but God tested him to ensure that his heart belonged first to the Lord (Genesis 22). In the end, God provided for Abraham, just as He always provides for us.

When we cling to idols, we are enslaved. When we surrender them, we are set free.

Many people say, “I didn’t know Jesus was all I needed until Jesus was all I had.”

That can sound cliché—until you live it. Sometimes, God allows everything else to be stripped away so we can finally see that He alone is our source of life.

If you’re feeling empty, drained, or frustrated in your pursuit of something—whether it’s wealth, success, or even a relationship—ask yourself:

Has this become an idol?

If so, the best thing you can do is surrender it to God. Let Him do the necessary work to free you, even if it’s painful. Remember, God never takes away anything without giving us something better—Himself.

Everything we have is on loan from God. Psalm 24:1 reminds us:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

We own nothing, yet in Christ, we have everything. When we recognize this, we can enjoy God’s gifts rightly—not as idols, but as divine trusts.

Let’s live with open hands and open hearts, treasuring the Giver over the gifts.

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