Are we to think that the only idols Satan uses are carved images? Scripture says that he offers many other kinds of “gods” to us. He will even put us and our desires into the place of God, if we let him! It is quite simple. Just get us to think mainly of what we can see.
Man’s fleshly eye sees that, among all the animals, he is the highest and wisest. That seems to make man the most important. What can compare with man’s great mind? What is to hold man back from fulfilling his own desires? As Paul said of some, “their god is their stomach” (Philippians 3:19). They are “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4). Who can doubt that the idols of many today include pleasures, sex, money, careers, security, success and fame? They seek these things far more seriously than they seek the true God.
For the wicked [evil person] boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy [hungry] for gain curses and renounces [turn from] the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, ”There is no God” (Psalm 10:3-4).
Selfish desires and “pride” take the place God should have in their hearts. As Colossians 3:5 says, “Covetousness [greed]…is idolatry.” Selfish people want more and more. They do not care when they hurt others. They think there is no Judge to punish them, so they take advantage of others. They are like the Babylonians of old, “guilty men, whose own strength is their god” (Habakkuk 1:11). To such proud people God says,
… you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay [kill] you (Ezekiel 28:9).