Don't cling to worthless idols

When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” (Jonah 2:7-9)

Many years ago, I remember someone telling a story that went something like this:

There once was a little girl who had a necklace made of plastic pearls that she loved to wear. One night, her father came and kindly asked her, “would you please give me your pearls?” The little girl refused, because she did not want to give them up. Night after night, her father would say good night, tuck her in, and then ask “would you please give me your pearls?” And night after night, the little girl would say no.

Finally, one night, after her father asked, she reluctantly agreed to give her father the pearl necklace. She knew that he was her father and that she probably needed to do what her father asked her to do. But what happened next, she did not expect. Her father took her plastic pearl necklace, and then reached into his pocket and pulled out a genuine pearl necklace and gave it to his daughter.

In our walk with the Lord, there often come times when we sense that God is asking us to give something up. It may be a sin that we have been indulging, or a possession that we do not really need. It could be a hobby we have always had, or a habit that is getting in the way of other things. And like that little girl, we are often suspicious of God’s motives, not trusting that He might have a good reason for asking us to give up our treasure. But our God is a loving Father who gives good gifts to His children, and His heart and motives can be trusted.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

One of my favorite verses is Jonah 2:8-9, where, in the belly of the big fish, Jonah says “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” I love that line: those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Those who insist on clutching on to plastic pearl necklaces do not have the open hands that are necessary to receive the real and better thing from their Father. But if we would, whether with a song of thanksgiving or a half-hearted trust, sacrifice to the Lord what He asks of us, we would experience His salvation and goodness.

What worthless idol are you clinging to right now? Trust your father, and give it into His good and loving hands.