He built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” (Ex. 32:5)
As a writer in a competitive and technologically changing field, I face the unenviable task of doing much of my own marketing. Publishing companies expect today’s authors to have a strong presence of their own to secure a financial return on their writing—it’s called a platform. Accomplishing this presence in the scope of social media presents not only a time and content challenge, but also a threat to one’s humility. How much is too much?
We, as a culture, are tempted to be self-absorbed. Since everyone today can continually share his or her daily activities and achievements and privileges, the idea of a private life is long gone. And this means that we too can participate in a festival to self.
Aaron used the people’s own gold to craft an animal. He christened it a “god” and lied to his own congregation by telling them it had brought them out of Egypt. The glitter of indulgence overcame reason. They got up early the next day to “worship”—to sacrifice their dignity and their intelligence and to indulge themselves by gorging on food and drink and illicit sexual pleasure. Our temptations today, are at times, of a milder nature, but self still craves coddling. And if we are not careful, we too will think we are worshiping the Lord when really, in our daily lives, we are worshiping ourselves.
Remember that a festival to self always ends in destruction of self.
Valorie Quesenberry is a pastor’s wife and mom who lives in Indiana and likes to recharge with coffee and time with friends.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
