Constructing an Idol (Part 3) Collecting Green Stamps

Matthew 11:29-30 (NKJV) 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I once heard that the yoke for oxen during Jesus day were custom made for each pair of oxen. This customization made these beasts of burden load less abrasive and more comfortable. We live in a world which can apply heavy burdens upon us and left to our own strength can appear overwhelming and crushing at times. When we think of burdens, our mind usually conjures up negative scenarios with high stress and bleak outcomes. There are other burdens of which can be more difficult to recognize and that is the burdens of success, praise and reward. When I was growing up my Granny would collect green stamps with each purchase at our local country store. She would place these stamps into a book. Each completed book would carry a value of which you could purchase items through the green stamp catalogue. The more filled books you had the greater the reward. I have dealt with numerous sexual addicts who were very successful and talented people but they never learned how to deal with the stress of success. Because of their success and talent, those around them often praised them with “green stamps.” There was also the pressure to always perform at high levels in their area of giftedness. If they never learned how a Godly person deals with success then Satan is there to promote a place to reward themselves as well as an escape from the pressure to never fail. Carrying the burdens of praise and success promotes our self-reliant and I am god sinful nature. The lie which promotes this idol construction is “you deserve to reward yourself and you need a break from all the stress others place upon you.” Many successful marketing plans have been built around this strategy because it is an easy selling point. We are not designed to carry the burden of praise and accomplishment. Each time we reward ourselves with escapes into the fantasy world of sexual sin, we shift away from Christ’s yoke and add another level to the idol’s construction. I had a friend who would often say “You think you are all that and a bag of chips.” It was her way of saying the person thought very highly of themselves. The Christian walk involves humility, submission and a servant’s attitude. If you are carrying the burden of praise today you may be collecting “green stamps” by which you will reward yourself and add to the construction cost of building the sexual idol. Don’t yoke yourself to the burden of praise and self-reliance because pride will go before the fall.

If you or a loved one need help in dealing with the idol of sexual sin, then contact us at perfecthope.org or give us call at 901-430-3412.

Jonathan Jones, President Perfect Hope Ministry