3 Signs You Are Idolizing Relationships and Marriage: God Won't Bless You With An Idol
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
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One reason many people remain single is because they have idolized relationships and marriage in their hearts. God won't bless you with an idol. In this video you will learn 3 signs that show you are idolizing relationships and you will learn what you should do if you are idolizing relationships or marriage.
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I needed this. I'm guilty of idolizing relationships but the Lord convicted me about it. That's why I'm learning to enjoy my singleness and if I never have a mate, I know God knows best.
Enjoy it sister, to the fullest! No matter what, because you love Jesus and follow Him, your life will be awesome!
Adeline Proverbs31 yep, God knows best. It is better to be single than to be with someone who is not right for you.
Wow praise the Lord for your attitude. That’s a great place to be with the Lord! Keep staying faithful !
Adeline Proverbs31 same!!
How does an introverted person make the time to meet people when my job is totally demanding? I'm tired of being mentally and physically exhausted when I get home.
I idolized a relationship so badly that God corrected strongly and He kept speaking to me “I Am the Lord your God and beside me there is no other”,! It took me years to figure out why He kept telling me that because I was so focused on my exhausting, halted idol of a relationship!
I am in your same shoe which I didn't realise it. When I found out my ex happily have a new found beau whom he is loving, I was like, why was that God give him someone during his healing process to forget me quickly while I stick to my principle, I don't want to hurt anyone before I am heal.. then I was like so unfair, but then as I am slowly healing, I realise, by not following the footstep like my ex, I didn't hurt anyone though is tough for me to walk alone in my process as I am so fearful I will end up being alone. I desire to get married as 46yrs this year, not only my mum worry about me I never want to be single 😕😕😕 I hope I have God's strength to overcome this
I believe romantic relationships are placed in high priority in today's society. To not be in one at a certain age, can cause others to judge that person's sexuality or value as a human being. I think this is a great video that you posted. 🤗
Amen! Thanks for the encouragement :)
Well put!
Iv dealt with exactly what you just said my entire adult life, Iv been in denial but Im starting to think that maybe Iv been guilty of this as well
Lisa C society should stop pressuring people to be in relationships. Some of us have not found the right person.
Well there's freedom in rejecting the world's standards. Bad romance will do a number on your soul so go at your own pace.
This hurt, but I appreciate it
Duct_Tape Heart I agree, but thankfully all pain isn't damaging. Meaning the truth that hurts is the truth that can make us free and gives beauty for ashes
Oi flip to 1 King 3:1 pray exactly what Solomon did to Father God in Jesus's name. That's what I did then when the video was playing I was so happy that I was corrected.
Same, but praise God for the conviction. It’s only to better us.
Great word. Just 2 days ago while praying, God revealed to me that I have made my husband an idol. All I could do was accept what He told me and now return to my first love. The one true and living God.
Amen, when we repent of idolatry we are free to enjoy the gift the way God intends :)
ApplyGodsWord.com/Mark Ballenger hello friend, I have the dream to become an Ilustrator, but drawing has turned into an idol (it’s really my dream to be an ilustrator), will I need to quit drawing forever because I have made it into an idol? How should I preceed my brother? I really want to serve Christ with my illustration career not draw cursed stuff (soaked in Idolatry), I’ve watched videos from pastors like “Tim Conway” who told me storyes about people who had idolatrous relationship with physical exercises, and I really don’t know what to do, I’ve quited drawing for about 4 months because of this, It’s sad to see that ,due to lack of training, my abilities to draw are getting weacker, I really want to draw, It’s my passion, but can I just kill the “idol” not the drawing or I got to stop drawing forever in order to kill it? Christ says we should die to self everyday, I’ve never felt so dead like now before.
Marriage is the covenant from God. Not sure if you want to put Gods signature on divorce.
@@JimJin2010 I don't think she meant that she left her husband. Marriage is a gift from God, but it's not meant to be placed BEFORE God. She gave first priority back to God, and now she can truly love and enjoy her husband in a new way, not as an idol.
@@leviackerman6678 I thought I would answer this question with the information you provided. Your case may be different but If drawing is for a means of income for you, then it is not wrong to invest in it as you would a job, but don't obsess over it where it affects your time with God. To give you an idea, the average time people work(and get paid) a day is 8-9 hours, 5 days a week.
This is going to be a pivotal point in my Christian walk. Idolatry is my sin. You nailed it. I totally see myself in these words. I'm so grateful for this video. Amen.
I'm so glad you found this video helpful Nikki
I'm guilty of this! Lord please forgive me!
God Bless You.
I'm a bad person i don't deserve blessing I guess..
K but no need idk
@@usernotfound5935 theres no such thing as a good person all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory
It's hard because I lost my dad and both my parents are with God. I love God but I pray that God brings me a Godly man. I know He loves me but I become extremely lonely with my friends having their own lives with their own families. Please pray for me. I'm doing a lot better than I did last year but I really want a family.
Alchymyst 02 God knows the desires of your heart and He cares for you so don't worry love your blessing is coming.
#roseofsharon Get involved in the places that a likeminded man would go such as a ministry at church, it will also help you to keep busy and feel good about helping others
Pray to God to help you spend time with him in your prayer closet, private time with him
I wish we could become good friends
I already prayed for you, darling. This is what I faceing also :) and I do believe that you gonna get a good person who can make the family in your dream come true ! God bless you, RoseofSharon
In order:
-God
-Goals
-Girls
1 Girl only ;)
@@tesspulido he's grammatically correct, because he's not speaking to one person.
God in everything
The Woman who you marries should be placed 2 then your goals should be 3rd.
This is a struggle. Especially when you are trying to heal from a toxic relationship with a narc. You want so bad to relieve that uneasiness with another person. Oh abba, please fill all of the empty places within me
That rigth and angry in u so just pray me i need to change my life more before i date
Hmmm GOD PLEASE HELP US
I never thought about Chronic Singless being a possible symptom of idolizing relationships. I've been chronically single, but I think at least for me, it's partly to do with a fear of getting hurt since I remember what it felt like to get my heart broken. I still want to be married but I want God to be in control.
Just hurts me to but i wait on God until he send me the one u go on date ppl heart must be broken to find the one but walk holy
My issue was my past porn I have stopped, still get these thoughts sometimes but getting more mature I right now confused on wether I want a relationship or not. I regret my past so much and I pray God helps me overcome which so far he's gotten me to stay humble I do have issues I feel with football all the time. Amen
Yeah I was surprised he said that
i can relate.
I was thinking it could also mean a fear of getting hurt
Very well said! Just realized I'm guilty of doing this. Especially giving up and abandoning God's word to be in a 'relationship.' That never worked out, now I know why.
Nula Rayn all we can do is repent and keep moving forward with the Lord. Thank God for his grace!
Nula Rayn wow story of my life
did the same thing. tried so hard to work it out. but really it's never gonna work. it was doomed to fail at the beginning. it breaks my heart now that it's over. but I know, what happened is a blessing.
Nula Rayn take it from me. My name is Justin. I once had a relationship for 9 years. I tried to work it out no light in that tunnel. Wait for it for gods plan.
Idolizing means putting somebody/something on a pedestal.
I'm guilty of this. I'm very interested in someone to the point where he was the only thing that could make me happy. Everything between me and this guy has gone wrong. It got to the point where I started to get into tarot, new age, and obsession. He rejected me, threatened me, and broke my heart to the point of suicide attempts. I've realized that I made him an idol and I need God to save me🙏
Praying for you. God will heal you. Just keep praying and have unwavering faith in Jehovah God.
This was awesome! I agree with you about obeying God and keeping God first. That is the key. Everything else will fall into place. I'm a new subscriber and I love your videos.
Beauty4Ashes so glad you found this channel and it's blessing you. God bless!
Brother Mark, recently discovered you in youtube n i love it . Im nearing 40. Pliz pray for me for a godly man ... fr india
So great to hear from you! God bless, and I just prayed that God would bring you a godly man.
Brother mark, wow.... u made my day .. it is 7.16 am here in india . Gud morning...mark, im tired of suffering frm lack of finances . Pliz pray for breakthru in my finances n favors... i want to settle abroad with a godly n rich man . My heart's desire is to help d poor especially orphans
Hi sister from India. Why do you need your man to be rich? What if he is poor and loves you and God very much? "Take delight in the Lord" (first!), "and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 When you put God first, your desires will match with His desires!
Sweet love , im being specific of wat i want coz i hv been poor all my life n my heart desire is to help d poor especially children wit no parents. I dont wat a rich man to hv a good life . I want a rich man blessed by God to help d poor .. this is wat i mean sister sweet . Thank q for d encouragement .. god bless u
+Chongpy Misao you cant serve God and money in the same time
and if you think you "need" money -that could be a lack of faith
A 19-20 year-old gets married and everyone rejoices and never thinks that the person who left singleness LITERALLY THE MOMENT THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY made marriage an idol. But the 30-40 year-old single who has prayed and hoped and waited on God's blessing and who dares to be honest about how much they are suffering, frustrated, and confused gets subtly accused of making marriage an idol.
Philippians 2:14
I was one that NEVER went on a date and NEVER wanted to go out because I've seen so much of the wrong approaches by Christians to Christian and non-Christians on the dating scene. I stayed away. However, this was not do to fear, this was in preserving myself to receive my husband! We cannot just open ourselves up to just anyone. We must open our hearts to the right people. The word tells us to guard our hearts. Good video to help though. We need to stop idolizing. The devil deceives many with this sin.
A Mimms amen, guarding your heart and walling your heart off in a tower are different. You are right, guarding the heart is biblical and right (proverbs 4:23)
This really hit me! I used to have a Instagram account because I was following actresses and look what they wear so I can follow also the trending clothes, shoes, lipstick, you named it the worldly things. Then just last February I just decided to deactivate my account and start reading the bible and start watching some Godly educational here on You tube. I did not realized that following actresses is idolizing. I feel so much better now! I thank God for opening my eyes and heart. Now i am more aware that Hollywood is run by satan!
This was so helpful...I have idolized relationships in the past. Repent, put God first in my heart. I am doing the work right now
What if you did date always but now you have a godly man that you are about to be his wife ?
Oh Lord conviction after conviction after conviction
Its good though. I think that if you feel after you realise a person you may be thinking about could be making you put more thought in them then into God, being aware it may be idolatry is important. I see pride and idolatry are 2 sins people need to be more aware of as they are always in our path in most things we do in life
lol God won't bless you with a curse. hahahaha awesome title!
👍
Bro you just did a sermon on idolatry
If you can't say "amen", say, "ouch"! 😆 Definitely a timely message, Bro. God bless!
Amen *and* ouch over here!
Wow!!! I thank God for you this has just helped me i was going through this I feel free now I dnt know wat I was going through until I watched your videos ...God bless
Anne Muchiri so glad this was helpful and God bless!
That was intense! I couldn't stop taking notes haha. I would like to share my personal reflections from your advice. This totally reminds me of parental relationships and other intimate relationships in our lives. Sometimes idolatry is overlooked with regards to obeying parents because it's put on a pedestal. I know a lot of muslims fall into that trap because of cultural hindrance. And i just realized where this applies in my life... my dad! I always thought it would be a romantic partner as you addressed but generally our idea of relationships start from our observance of our mum and dad. Forgetting that they could very well be messing up in their approach
Thanks for sharing this Walaa Ali!
May God bless you bother in Christ. The Lord just answered my prayer regarding this topic. What a blessing you are!!!! Thank you :)))
Excellent content and most of all, VERY BIBLICAL.
Thanks Cristo, glad this was helpful! God bless
Im glad I found your Channel! Keep making these videos. God bless
Not going on dates ? but what if I haven't encountered someone who is worthy of my quality time.
smh then you may be proud (?)
Oh wow I never thought of idolizing relationships by NEVER going on dates, wow this is totally me 🙁 aw man that’s rough.
The last two I’m guilty of. Thank you for sharing the truth bro, much appreciated! God is good.
So glad this video was helpful Steven!
I dint really understand the part mark said about idolizing cause we Dont go on dates
How is that idolizing because you don't go on dates? That doesn't make sense to me at all.
@@BruceJC75 very well said, thank you for sharing
I am idolizing relationships, thank you for opening my eyes to this
Whatever you idolize in your heart, God will withhold from you. Praying God changes my intention to go from attracting a man to pleasing him, not so he can bless me but so I can learn to glorify him in everything.
This might sound like a stupid question but how do you differentiate between idolizing a relationship (in the sense of wanting one really bad) and having a very strong emotional pull towards marriage? Because in one of his videos, he says that God is probably pushing you towards marriage if singleness is a sacrifice you don't want to make.
I’ve never been in a relationship because I believe it will happen when it happens. Haven’t met someone I see spending my days with. Also, I’m very independent. Sometimes I feel I would have to carry my partner mentally and emotionally and I don’t feel like I want to do that right now. I’m working on myself and my career first.
Edén Delgado 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏾 ♥️
I never thought about the loner aspect about idolizing. I am guilty of this. I have stayed away from relationships for the fear of "not touching one". How do I practice becomeing less distant but not swaying to the other extreme of always seeking relationships out?
I had to unlike this to like it again! Love these videos!
Lol
Haha
Wow! I didn't think that not wanting to be around a crowd could possibly be idolatry.
Certainly not all the time, but sometimes it can be if we are avoiding the crown because we fear what they think of us thus elevating them too high
It isn't, some of us aren't the crowd gathering types. I can only relate to a few people at once anyway so being in the crowd doesn't bother me but I prefer less people around me.
I think it is difficult for a woman in marriage because of the curse on eve in Genesis. Very easy to let primary relationships to overgrow in our hearts. All the topics you brought up go much deeper...
Even at my age, it's one thing to have a knowledge of these things - it is another thing living it out. It is a day by day by day process & looking back at my life - well... it really is God's grace & mercy out working
I feel condemned by what I did in the past. Not convicted. Please pray for me. Not sure Jesus can forgive me. Ok?
I
Well it all starts with truly confessing and repenting. If you do that you then have to believe God has forgiven you as he promised 1 John 1:9, this article may help applygodsword.com/christianity-101-part-1/
God forgives ALL. Prayers offered.
God forgives all sins, don't let the enemy lie to you that God can't forgive, sometimes the devil will bring blasphemous thoughts to man, or sometimes man will actually blaspheme God, but as long as you feel sorry and ask God for mercy and forgiveness, God forgives you.
I was in that same idiol relasionship with a lieing chirstain man he play me as a fool and my life was unhappy and hurts and broken again again my mind was blow out and i never do this again me and God frist and my kids and my buniess so now is me and God
correct preach. God told us we should walk by faith not by sight.As a child of God we should renew our mind by not idolizing any thing so far. We need to obey God because obedience is better than sacrifices. More over we need to obey God , and our husbands as long as we are walking in the same faith. I am encouraging with such kind of preach to know how to obey God in our lives and relationships.
This is the most horrible subject. The problem is for us who have been single forever and starving for affection, we are told that we are making relationships an idle because love's been held back from our childhoods until our adult lives. If you're lost in the desert and you see water you'll want to drink and drink. After decades of waiting it should not be considered an idle when you have been waiting for so long. Maybe this video is pertaining to someone who has only waited for a short time.
Man eye opener!
Woah, I never thought of the flip side, as it may be a sign of fear. That's so good! I really needed to hear that. Thank you!
I think my comment goes better here:
Infatuation or 'puppy love' is another word for making another human being a temporary god, a deliverer. 'Please!' it screams, 'Please deliver me from my loneliness, you're exactly what my soul wants, you are the person that can satisfy the longing in my soul'. But really what they want is a cover-up for the lust of their flesh and the lie that they must replace the LORD God with a god of sinful flesh. They want someone to satiate their unchecked passions and to stroke their egos. It is the greatest needful disappointment to realize that a mere person makes for a horrible deity. Like clinging to an idol that disintegrates to dust when you reach out to caress it. That's what it's like to cling to a person to satisfy every longing. What is man anyways? One day that handsome hunk will turn to dust. One day that hot babe will be in the ground. Physical appearance and ability is fleeting. We have nothing to boast of and can't even draw one breath apart from the grace and allowance of God. We can't move our feet or tongues apart from His sovereignty. Infatuation is nothing more than temporary worship of created being. When we look to a person to satisfy, we anger the LORD God intensely with our idolatry. It is just as bad as bowing down to a stone god or golden calf. The devotion will only last so long. Hot passions cool off, then what's left? What does it to the worshipper? And what does it do to the worshipee? (Is that even a word??) For any person to accept the worship of another is absolutely pride and narcisissm. Oooh but it feels so good to be wanted and adored, doesn't it? It feels so good to feel you are completing another person? It just sounds so right doesn't it? Wrong! Only GOD is meant to fill that role. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me". That means GOD is first AND it means we are to present no other gods in His sight (before Him, in His presence). Scary to claim His Name and then forget all about him and go worship your 'crush' or 'lover' night and day in your thoughts, your dreams, your fantasies and escapades. Sensual and emotional Infatuation is a perversion that has been normalized and called 'falling in love'. No, infatuation is a sin that ranks right up there with bowing down in worship to golden calves. Accepting another's infatuation is the sin of pride and rebellion because it denies GOD is the ultimate authority and only HE deserves that honor.
I just want to say thank you for making this video. This has giving me a new perspective on relationships and another way to improve myself while being single.
Amen, so glad this was helpful to you :)
Thank you Mark. I literally bursted into tears after hearing this. I am married but I have 2 Idols in my heart Both ex. It's difficult for me but I will follow the steps. Thanks.
When I m in my early 20s to 35 I m single n still can find joy in the Lord n concentrate to serve God with gladness. But when I m in my 36 to early 40s I began to long for a relationship daily. Cos my needs are not met. Still single in early 40s. So does that mean in my earlier years I have not sinned but in my later years I have sinned by placing relationship as an idol? It’s a natural progression from easy being single to fretting whether I will be shelved alone aside when I m old. So the point is I feel to think of wanting a relationship n to establish a family n starting to fret in my early 40s about still being single is legitimate. One can still think of these needs daily n continue to serve God.
This is so true for me, idolizing or placing relationships too high, above God & at times having disobeyed God 😔 The Lord has taken me through a very lonely season, removing everyone from my life… I can use this to make the necessary changes, repent and put The Lord back at the top, thank you for sharing!
Medical school was an idol for me. I surrendered it. Shoot I would not have been a great doctor and it was not what I was called to do however, it was extremely hard. It wasn’t until I removed this desire from my heart that God revealed to me what He created me for. I still think about medicine from time to time
Great advice never looked at it this way.Its so true!
Gavin Locke glad this was helpful :) God bless
Brilliant teaching. Definitely under the anointing. 🙌🏼🙌🏿🙌🏻🙌🏾
What I have realised pride and idolatry are 2 sins we need to be more aware of. All sin is bad but these 2 are maybe not as thought about as others.
Miss out. Are you kidding? I had lots of dates before accepting Jesus. And prayer does not work. Relationships.Have not had a date in 23 years. SO I am alone.Joy bah humbug. I use to go to church 3 x a week. Volunteer at the church. Singles groups. I did it all. So God does care. I am done with God.
Whoaaa my jaw dropped @ never dating or talking to guys can be an idol and I said don't get me together Mark! But you sure did.
I knew something was off about me being NEVER talking to guys or going on dates because you're so right it has become an idol. Too much exalting the opinions of others, fear, and unworthiness under the pretense of living holy or true love waits lol. But I've grown a lot and I think I'm ready. It's just sad how the church is so aggressive about waiting for marriage and fornication but not many are teaching about how to do it with love and purity and holiness. It makes some of us feel like there's something wrong when we desire a relationship and scares us away. Your service is so needed. Thank you!
Loved this!!!!! I am so happy you posted this you answered every single question that I had in what just happened with me in a relationship. So grateful and God bless you. Definitely post more!!!
I'm so glad this was helpful Cortney! God bless!
Only just got around to watching this video but it has been coming up as 'recommended for me' for a few weeks...sometimes God does this with certain TH-cam videos when He really wants me to hear the message! And I really needed to hear this 😂 It helped me identify that as much as I want to be in a relationship, I really have feared taking even small steps such as dating, due to my idolisation! Thanks for being a messenger for God, Mark!
@ApplyGodsWord some constructive remarks not to be taken harshly.
That is super unfair and even misleading Mark. I usually agree with your statements, but you can have even deep negative emotions about single and relationships not be an idol. Just because we are believers in Christ, does not mean you will be happy and cheerful all the time. The thing about Christians being happy and fulfilled all the time is absolute garbage. Evil pain of all kinds constantly torments some of the godliest people I know and know of. The real question is not why do some of God's people suffer, it is why do some not. God doesn't automatically give you positive emotions and fulfill things as some claim. I seek God, pray, and try to put Him first in everything, and I've still found that it is very rare that God truly fills those voids and longings. In much the same way of a fast, It's more of a denial of self in not satisfying those hurts and our desires as a devotion to God. Even Paul had severe unrelenting torment and God's reply in 2 Corinthians 12:9 states: "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." If God has allowed the thorn of relationship pain and not granted our desires, it would be sin to do so outside of His will. We must live with the pain if or when he desires to fill that vacuum. To say otherwise would be along the lines of Job's friends saying that he is experience what he is because he isn't following God. And for the person suffering in the time of loneliness; I get that it is painful, and the honest truth is that it may never go away. We must not talk back to God and say 'why did you make us this way, He is God and we are not. But God is still good and on His throne. Don't give up your faith for the temptation of a relationship that God did not bring. And oh I know how hard that is to not run to, as a grown-azz man in his 30s, I cried even today from the feelings of loneliness and longing. I have to constantly be reminded that God is working all things together for our good and His glory. It's worth it in the end.
From reading all this, God seems abusive and like someone who enjoys seeing us in pain and weak sorry
@@esha9216 It can seem like that many times. God is not the harsh overlord that many think; He is a parent that loves. Just as a parent will withhold things that would not be good for a child, as painful as that may seem, it is for the good of the young person. There are many reasons we experence pain; pain because we are idiots and do stupid stuff and get the consequences, pain because we are working toward somthing good (no pain, no gain), and an array of emotional pain. God usually doesn't spare us discomfort in life that may help us grow, and doesn't spare pain that seems to have no meaning such as disease and death. God doesn't usually inflict pain, and is not in the business of punishment since Jesus took it on himself and is the mediator between God and us. That said, God certainly allows us to go through pain to learn or draw closer to Him. Just as a good parent loves when their child comes to them for comfort when they're hurting, God loves it when we come to Him. I suggest reading 'The Problem of Pain' by C.S.Lewis (free on youtube or overdrive) and 'God in the Dock' also by Mr. Lewis. I am no expert nor gifted with words, but Mr. Lewis in these books gives you very satisfactory answers to many of these questions.
God is not harsh, He is just and merciful, but not cruel.
@@mikeag that’s your point of view. It does not align with my experience of God. We don’t always get pain in life because of our own actions, sometimes it’s because of others and god doesn’t protect us as we would expect a ‘loving parent’ to.
And withholding a ‘bad thing’ is different from allowing someone to go through years of pain and trauma. In that case, God is giving you the bad thing 😅
And fyi, if I were a parent, I would not behave the same. I could not bear to see my children in pain and continue watching that if I have the power to change it. Also giving someone pain to bring them closer to you seems like manipulation, as opposed to giving them the choice of choosing you which apparently Christianity boasts that God gives us.
Also, some pain and suffering is meaningless and we can definitely do without it if it breaks our spirit and causes us to spiral into depression, which apparently again God doesn’t care about because it’s for ‘our good’ 😅
And I can’t wait for you tell me how arrogant I am for thinking this way and questioning Gods ways because saying no to abuse and using reason and critical thinking makes you that.
I think this person need go to God first if alI mean put God in your heart soul in mind and later on thank about marriag a Christian.. that you always need that God first.. heart mine and soul.. that's what doing now.. thank you for your message mark
I've heard this idea over and over, and I've always thought that it's a poisonous thing to tell people, especially when it comes from someone who is happily married. Paul said that it is better to marry than to burn with passion... so to people who burn the most with passion, you say that it is not good to marry?
Now I'm not saying that the advice in the video is bad for everyone at all times. I do think that it's never portrayed in an empathetic way and it turns away the people who maybe need to hear it most.
To people who have this problem, it's telling a thirsty man that he is idolizing water.
There's nothing wrong with longing for a relationship. It's not idolatry unless it leads you to disobey God by entering or continuing a relationship that is not honoring to God.
It's better to just pray for them, when you encounter these people. Trust me, no one ever offered to pray thay they'll find someone soon or that things will work out with the one they're interested in. Instead, they get platitudes about learning to love themselves as singles, or out-of-context verses about Paul's celibacy. Single Christians get enough spiritual abuse because of their lonliness. You can show them that a sexual relationship isn't the solution to their problem by loving them where they are instead of laying the blame on them by saying "The reason you haven't found someone yet is because you want to meet her too much." Or better yet, you can help them solve their problem by extending your social circle and helping them meet people, offering advice about fashion and self-presentation, or even criticizing the things that make them undesirable to the opposite sex. Feeling empathy for others and trying to help them solve their problems- that's how you show them love, and love is what lonely people actually need. Once they feel accepted and cared for by the body of Christ, they'll find they can wait a little longer on God's timing.
This should be so clear, I don't understand why Christians always get this wrong. Single Christians fall into sexual sin because of the shortcomings of the local church. Want to know how to guarentee a Christian will get into bad relationships that grieve God's Spirit? You fail them in the church, blame them from the pulpit, and shame them in the pews-- then they go to tinder and find a worldy girlfriend. That is, if they don't check out altoghether and go to pornhub instead.
“The fear of man brings a snare.” This helped me so much because I’m not sure I believed relationships could be idols, WHILE I was doing it...and I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get emotionally free! Pray for me as I repent and work to rightly align my life to Jesus!
I prayed to God in the morning about showing me what idolatry in relationships means and if I have committed this sin in the past. Your video popped up in the evening. Praise the Lord!
I definitely repent today for creating an idol in my mind. I didn't even know it was happening....it sneaks up on ya slowly. I didn't realize how I was serving that idol until I caught myself doing things outside of the Word of God and acting out of Character. I even was trying to invent excuses and justification for this change. (Bowing down and serving)
I am so grateful for the Grace and Mercy of God that woke me up and showed me the truth about the error of my ways....leading me to repent! 🙏❤🙏
God is so Good!
My God... Help me put you first Lord! ❤
Amen!
Another great video. I learned to idolize romance as a teen and God could not bless me as a result. Your insights are spot on.
So glad it was helpful!
-Mark
Deep stuff...Yet, good stuff.
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Have spent years trying to be appealing to others, forcing connections with attractive ppl, and just not knowing what I was doing and desperately seeking love and adoration. Which is why God got me sitting right by myself right now lolololol
My 20 yr old nephew thinks he is in-love with his 19 yr old girlfriend. They have been going together for about 4 yrs now. He spends lots of money on her for everything & when they argue & she breaks up with him he shows a really bad attitude towards his parents, cusses and disrespect them to their face. He is an only child & was raised in church from infant to adulthood & before this girl he loved going to church. Needless to say, he doesn't go to church any more and spends most of his time 24\7 with her at her parents house. What concerns his mom & me is that every time his girlfriend breaks up with him he threats to kill himself. I think she is using him for a money fool b\c she knows he idolizes her. She is very pretty girl on the outside, but I don't think she is on the inside. How do you reach a person who thinks the sun rises and set set on the throne of his princess & life is not worth living if he is not her chosen prince any more?
What you said about being petrified and fearful of relationships and group settings is so me! You described my situation perfectly. I noticed for some reason I’m always scared around guys and talking to them. I avoid them. I also do the same with group settings and friends. I feel like I always need to be this perfect image in order to get what I want. So exhausting. I want a relationship but I’m so scared.
I'm fortunate to have learned I've idolized relationships. I'm now confident enough to say I put God before my relationship. Next idol I have to remove is my career.
I agree. I been there in making the thought of a finding wife the idolatrees in my life . it t is why i never found a wife but only girlfriends which ended up in fornication. God should come first.
A man recently broke up with me and we had a relationship for 7 months but he just left with little explanation after I opened myself and my home to him ,he also bought a ring and took it back. Through out the relationship he needed to change something's about himself as well as me but he didn't. I had many prophetic dreams that led me to believe that we were going to be together. He won't respond to my text and said he is going through a trying time.i dont know what to believe or what actions to take I've been rejected so much that its left me with lots of trauma in my life to deal with. I thought that he was different I still believe that he is a good guy .What are your thoughts??? Confused
Any updates
Although this being an old video, I am truly idolizing relationships. I have been struggling with that sin and it’s been eating at me. I confess my sin to The Lord and let it be His will in whatever happens with me and relationships.
I admit that I have been idolizing my fiance lately. Lord I repent
My wife and i split up about 4 months ago and I was devastated. We are living together again but we’re are not back together. We are basically room mates at this point in time. I’ve still been very miserable even though God has given me promises that we are going to make it. I finally accepted today that I’ve made her an idol. I am feeling much freer now and this video confirmed that this was the case. Let go and let God. Thanks for the video.
Trav update?
Trav did God restore your relationship?
Very informative, I am suffering from idolizing relationships, yes, my focus was on this guy in cellgroup who I went out last year. The saving grace was him telling my cellgroup leader how uncomfortable he was about me pursuing him everytime via WhatsApp or Facebook. I felt hurt that I did it to him. Made my confession about it last year and still struggling with it. With this struggle, I always ask this priest from Philippines to help get advice from. Pray for me, please! Thanks. Great advice, from this video. Gb!👌😃
since I was 15/16 years old. I have always want to get married and have children and I have always dreamed of my future because that was something that really would make me happy, but now I understand that God must be the source to my happiness and joy and strength, and this makes so much sence now. that I need to find my everything in God and not on earthly things and that is also why God says seek his Kingdom first and everything will be added on to you. I have been blinded again by the enemies lies!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much
I was doing this , unintentionally 🤔 I’m learning so much
I am guilty of this,please forgive me Lord and help me to focus on You!
I think we are not complete without our mate. We need each other. God made men and women to be together. Eventually God will send you a mate
Praise God for his word! Thank you for letting God use you! My heart needed this! Do you have a video on how to turn from "Marriage idolatry"?
Wow very helpful!!! Thankyou soo much!!!🙏🏾
I'm really enjoying your videos. This one was really helpful, it helped me to place things in the right order. I loved your book 'The One' too... Thanks
Thanks Mark for your videos on this topic, I've been praying for a wife for a while now! God bless you more and more.
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I'm guilty of this.
Recently I felt unbalanced. I have attached my happiness and validation to someone who was wrong for me. It was a disaster.
This was so enlightening! Wow! I thank God for your ministry! May God continue to bless u beyond measure!!
I often felt that Relationship and its status was the source of Joy or Sadness in my life. Now I am going through toughest phase of my life where I lost my parents many years back n having tough time with the Girl I loved. But God is able to restore me. I pray that relationships shouldn't be idolized in my life as well as anyones life.
Thanks Brother.
Bhupathi Raj you got this bro. I prayed for you
I do comited to god and getting to a relationship with a woman. I used to went high school with her. How can I tell her what I feel. My biological heart tells me. It’s real what should I do.
Thanks mark just on point👌🏼... God bless you
To rely and be dependent on them to be your sole source of love and happiness would have to be idolatry for sure, I have done just this over the last year and it has led to disasterous results. It brought out nasty insecurities, jealousy, possessiveness and even was causing me to be emotionally abusive to them without even realizing it until I got called out for it. That really caused reality to strike for me cause it was 100% spot on, I had done just that to them. These insecurities, jealousy, possessiveness have absolutely eaten me alive for putting them on a pedestal and to be dependent on them for my only source of love and happiness :( This is a very hard life lesson to learn now. To put myself in their shoes over this reversing the roles and having them use this emotional treatment on me, I can't imagine the hurt I've caused them now. I feel absolutely awful. And I pray they'll be able to recover from the trauma and emotional damage I have caused them. This is not who I want to be and I need to change. :( I need help, and most importantly to repent for doing this to them. Have now learned the very hard way you can't rely on someone to be your sole source of love and happiness and that only The Lord Himself is capable of doing that for us.
Great teaching! Opened my eyes to the truth!
Amen Cody Arndt, glad this was helpful to you!
Men and women are calling beautiful women Goddesses
What about coffee? That's an idol right? Let's talk about that
Waw very helpful! Thank you and God bless you brother!
Mark, thank you for all these videos. I constantly watch them. This one hit home for me. I have been struggling with idolizing a relationship so badly. Even so, I had committed sexual sin with a nonbeliever almost 8 months ago and I’ve repented, but it still has a huge place in my life because I work with that person. I have thought things like trying to make him a Christian to make the situation better. I have just felt so empty and sad the past couple of months. I keep hitting the same wall. I’m scared to open up to any other person because I feel like I deep down don’t deserve a good Godly man... even though, that’s what I want. I am that person that never dates anyone. I am so scared of hurt and putting relationships at such high high priority in my life and emotions. That when I finally thought I really liked this person, it hurt to realize they’re not for me. I am not God. I cannot make someone a Christian if they do not want it. If you see this Mark, or anyone, please help me pray that God helps me fix this idolatry in my heart. I do want a relationship and it to be blessed by God and from God. I have to not idolize it. 🙏🏼 It has been so hard for me. Growing up, everyone tells you that you’re beautiful and you must have a boyfriend. It’s a lot of pressure. I’ve been hurt so badly in the past by a guy. So I want a relationship, but I also have my wall built so high up. Sometimes I do not think anyone can even see me. In that last relationship, I idolized my boyfriend. I just want to do relationships the way that God intended. I have to relive this heavy pressure of relationships in my life.
Omg I relate to every single word of this! I've just come out of a very similar situation and have been feeling the same. I'm praying for us both. I hope you're well :)
Dude I understand what you’re saying, and obviously no human should EVER take the place of God. But we are also allowed to feel emotions. I am 36 years old and my ex husband left my son and I 5 years ago when our son was 4 months old and we were married. I had no control over that and the Lord finally released all that resentment and pain off of me last year and even brought my ex to Him, which I never thought was going to happen. If we had never split, I never would’ve come to Christ (I was not raised religious at all). But, I have been single for a long time and I have so much done work on myself and my relationship with God. I am more than halfway through my “read the Bible in a year” plan on YouVersion. I go to a church I love every Sunday. I am raising my son to love God and we read his Children’s Bible every night. I have replaced my need for relationships with God and it has given me more love, security, and confidence than anyone else ever could.
That all being said, I still want a partner in this life. I want to love someone and be loved in return. I want a man who is my best friend to go through this life together, and to be a father figure in my son’s life. I don’t NEED it, and I am happy without it, but I do want it. But God has not blessed me with the right person yet. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong or why He is making me wait even longer. I do choose to trust in His plan over mine, but it is hard and heartbreaking nonetheless.
Great advice!!! An idol is anything we obey. To be free from it, we must turn back to God, ask for forgiveness and “He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
I ended my last relationship because it wasn’t healthy and he wasn’t Christian and I want a healthy loving Christian relationship to have Jesus loving kids and bring glory to Hod and joy to our community with bearing spiritual fruit. I just very deeply desire this. I’m still quite joyful in my singleness tho :) I’m loving all this time on my hands and all the personal development going on, and I also really like this boy and hope he likes me back! The adventure is pretty fun cause I love the unknown and am excited to see what comes next and how our relationship might develop Gods will be done, as much as I sometimes am just like “ah notice me already!” But I trust Gods timing. He knows best :) I do think about it everyday but I’m just happy I’ve been blessed with the potential of having a love so deep because of God showing us how to love in the first place. I definitely think I was idolizing relationships and the crush a little while ago but I do feel I’ve turned a new leaf. I sure hope I did! And continue to grow in faith.
Happy Easter everyone! He is RISEN!!
Thank you for sharing. For me, to be very honest, I've been struggling with this for a few years, I definitely have this problem. Sometimes I'm afraid that I won't be able to change because I've been in the cycle for so long. There are times where I'll try but I still struggle and worry about it. It's like my default is to worry about it. But then I'm reminded that like Paul said "There is no good thing in me, that is, in my flesh"(Romans 7:18), letting me know that it's in my nature to not produce anything good outside from/without God and His help. If I could ask you guys to help pray me through this that I overcome, I would really appreciate it. May God give us all the grace to move beyond this setback and struggle in our lives. ❤
God has promised me that He has a person for me (the person has taken over even though we've never met). My other problem is I keep "banging" on those closed doors and I thank the Holy Spirit for reminding me of why those doors are and will remain closed. I think I fear being alone cz even in my childhood I grew up as a neglected child even though my parents were married. Also I know people most of the time use my gentle and forgiving nature to manipulate me which at times leads me to repeating my mistakes. I am in my season of waiting and at times I feel sooo alone to an extent I would plead with God to forgive me (if I am the reason that He also neglects me).Thank you for these videos cz God is really teaching me through them.
Brenda Ntaka knows that he never neglects you He hears everything ur saying !! He understands how u feel ! Know that u r never alone !! Pray until u feel peace in ur heart sing a worship song to help u feel better trust me it works God is good !!