Allegiance, Part 2 — What Idols Are Hiding in Your Life?

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” — Luke 14:26 (NASB)

Tough question time: What idols are hiding in your life?

It’s not a fun one to ask, but if we want to truly follow Jesus, it’s one we can’t avoid. God calls us to total allegiance—to love Him more than family, comfort, or even our own ambitions. The problem is, idols are sneaky. They hide behind things that seem good, harmless, or even “spiritual.”

So how do we uncover them?

Start by paying attention to where your thoughts go by default. When you’re driving in silence, standing in the shower, or waiting for an appointment—what fills your mind? Do you grab your phone, scroll social media, or dive into a distraction? Or do you take those moments to fix your focus and realign your heart with God?

Think about your dreams and goals. What occupies your mind the most? For me, there was a time when my thoughts revolved around food and fitness—what I ate, how to make it healthier, how to burn more calories, how to lose just five more pounds. It became all-consuming. It wasn’t bad to be healthy, but it became too important. That’s the danger—when something good becomes the ultimate thing, it becomes an idol.

For others, the idol might be a spouse, family, job, hobby, or even ministry. Not every good thing is a God thing. When something takes the place of God in your heart, even something noble like serving at church or pursuing spiritual growth, it’s out of order.

Ask yourself:

What do I think I can’t live without?
What would happen if God asked me to give it up?

Could I go a year without shopping beyond essentials? Without processed food? Without television? What if I couldn’t work out for a year?

Years ago, God took working out from me to show how much of an idol it had become. At other times, He’s stripped away TV, social media, or other comforts. Not because He wanted to punish me—but because He wanted to free me. He wanted my heart back.

Another hard question: Whose approval do you crave? Is there a group you want to belong to so badly that you’d compromise your convictions to fit in? How much time do you spend perfecting your home, your car, your image? God calls us to steward what He’s given us, but not to worship it.

These are all potential idols.

So take a moment—make a list. Bring it before God and ask, “Lord, what am I holding tighter than I’m holding You?”

Then listen. Be honest. And trust Him to help you lay it down.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

That’s the call. That’s allegiance.

When we surrender what’s been stealing our focus, we find freedom. We find joy. And we discover that nothing we lay down compares to what we gain when we follow Jesus wholeheartedly.