--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything can serve as a counterfeit god…" description: "\"Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.\" — Timothy Keller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/timothy-keller-240_best-things_anything-can-serve-as-a-counterfeit-god_569865.png" --- # Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the… ![“Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/timothy-keller-240_best-things_anything-can-serve-as-a-counterfeit-god_569865.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/timothy-keller-240_best-things_anything-can-serve-as-a-counterfeit-god_569865.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f7/timothy-keller-240_best-things_anything-can-serve-as-a-counterfeit-god_569865.png) > “Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.” [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that even the best things can become idols if misplaced, serving as false gods. **In simple terms:** Best things can become false idols. Key Takeaway Guard against idolizing. Themes idolatry values spirituality Mood reflective cautionary Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - career choices - relationships - wealth accumulation Key Concepts materialism attachment false worship Questions to Reflect On - What do you value most? - How to keep perspective on blessings? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on material can hinder spiritual growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Best things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things-in-life/) [Counterfeit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterfeit/) [Counterfeit God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counterfeit-god-917000/) [God Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-especially-1742859/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Serve Counterfeit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-counterfeit-4705201/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) [Trust in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-in-god/) ## Related quotes > [We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/we-think-that-idols-are-bad-things-but-that-is-almost-never-the-case/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“One of the signs that an object is functioning as an idol is that fear becomes one of the chief characteristics of life. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/one-of-the-signs-that-an-object-is-functioning-as-an-idol-is-that/) [Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/) > [May we always say thank you to God, especially for his patience and mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/may-we-always-say-thank-you-to-god-especially-for-his-patience-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“But as a child of God, there is something especially encouraging you need to remember today: God can do more in one moment than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/but-as-a-child-of-god-there-is-something-especially-encouraging-you/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“God lifts us up a level, so that we are more than mere animals clawing about for our next meal. God desires us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kergan-edwards-stout/god-lifts-us-up-a-level-so-that-we-are-more-than-mere-animals-clawing/) [Kergan Edwards-Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kergan-edwards-stout/) > [“There is no God, I'm sure of that. But the more they've sought me out, the more I am convinced that there are holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monette/there-is-no-god-i-m-sure-of-that-but-the-more-they-ve-sought-me-out/) [Paul Monette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-monette/) > [Whether we like it or not, one day science will take God from us! 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Just as often we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martin/often-when-we-are-in-trouble-or-doubting-or-struggling-we-rely-on/) [James Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martin/) > [“Some of the best things in life are the unexplainable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-c-lynn/some-of-the-best-things-in-life-are-the-unexplainable/) [K.C. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-c-lynn/) > [All my main characters are people I'd love to sit around having coffee with. They are people who will tell you honestly about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/all-my-main-characters-are-people-i-d-love-to-sit-around-having/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [The best things in life are free. Sunsets and sunrises are free. Air is free. Love is free. Death is free. The best things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-sunsets-and-sunrises-are-free-air-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I need the best things in life, that's women, thats cars. Cigars in Venice, bottle on ice, thats priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-need-the-best-things-in-life-that-s-women-thats-cars-cigars-in/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) ## More by Timothy Keller > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. At his first coming, he saved us from the penalty of sin and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-coming-of-the-messianic-king-occurs-in-two-stages-at-his-first/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ “24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: \[Alexis de\] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the-following-alexis-de/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible's teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-stay-away-from-christianity-because-part-of-the-bible-s-teaching/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-the-preaching-of-our-ministers-and-the-practice-of-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“of temple, presence, and sacrifice; of covenant and faithfulness; of kingdom and victory. When we seek to communicate the gospel to a particular culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/of-temple-presence-and-sacrifice-of-covenant-and-faithfulness-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Finally, you are ready to launch your church. Begin by developing action steps and goals that can be used as benchmarks to track your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/finally-you-are-ready-to-launch-your-church-begin-by-developing/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-a-child-of-god-you-don-t-lose-your-status-if-you-have-a/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-salvation-does-not-come-in-response-to-a-changed-life-a-changed/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an ‘idol,’ something you are actually worshiping. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/when-anything-in-life-is-an-absolute-requirement-for-your-happiness/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Suffering is the stripping of our hope in finite things, therefore we do not put our ultimate hope in anything finite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/suffering-is-the-stripping-of-our-hope-in-finite-things-therefore-we/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Christ will do everything for you or nothing. He's either all of your righteousness or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/christ-will-do-everything-for-you-or-nothing-he-s-either-all-of-your/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If we give God things in hope that they'll earn us blessings, we're really not doing anything for him. It's for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-give-god-things-in-hope-that-they-ll-earn-us-blessings-we-re/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) [Explore all 843 Timothy Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## More Best things quotes > [I need the best things in life, that's women, thats cars. Cigars in Venice, bottle on ice, thats priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-need-the-best-things-in-life-that-s-women-thats-cars-cigars-in/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-next-best-thing-to-being-witty-one-s-self-is-to-be-able-to-be/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I really believe that our past can really hold us back from growth, so the best thing that we can do is MOVE ON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/i-really-believe-that-our-past-can-really-hold-us-back-from-growth-so/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing about the term 'performance artist' is that it includes just about everything you might want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-best-thing-about-the-term-performance-artist-is-that-it-includes/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [The best things in life are free. Sunsets and sunrises are free. Air is free. Love is free. Death is free. The best things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-sunsets-and-sunrises-are-free-air-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I always wanted to be a player, but I never had the talent to make the big leagues. So I did the next best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-finley/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-player-but-i-never-had-the-talent-to-make-the/) [Charlie Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-finley/) > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Each time I stop somewhere and look out, there are more people sitting there than there were the time I came before. 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