Who is your worth tied to?

When Admiration Becomes Idolatry: How to Guard Your Faith

This month, as we celebrate Black Women’s History Month, I found myself reflecting on how much honor and admiration we give to Black women in the public eye. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, a question dropped into my spirit: “Who is your worth tied to?”

In other words, is there someone you admire so much that their success, lifestyle, or beliefs cause you to question your own worth?

At first glance, you might think, Nah, I don’t tie my worth to anyone but God. But let’s be real—deception is subtle. It creeps in through the voices we trust, the influencers we follow, and the role models we hold in high esteem. Whether it’s a pop star dropping gems in an interview, a reality TV star giving life advice, or a social media influencer shaping our worldview, we can unknowingly begin aligning our identity with them instead of Christ.

We start dressing like them, structuring our friendships and relationships after them, and even adopting their philosophies on marriage and motherhood. And while inspiration isn’t inherently bad, this is where women of God have to be careful.

Over the years, I’ve unfollowed many celebrities. Not because they lack talent, but because I felt uneasy coming into agreement (yes, a “like” is a form of agreement) with people pushing an anti-Christ agenda. Many celebrate sin, distort God’s natural order, and prioritize cultural acceptance over biblical truth.

Now, I know what some might say: People should believe and post whatever they want. And that’s true. But while the world is out here rooting for “everybody Black,” I’m rooting for everybody Kingdom.

I refuse to let my worth be defined by the music industry, Hollywood, or social media trends. My worth is tied to my identity in Christ—period.

How to Check If Your Worth Is Tied to Someone Other Than Christ

Here are three heart-check questions to reflect on:

1) When a celebrity or influencer says something that contradicts God’s word, do you start to second-guess your convictions?
It’s one thing to reflect and take things back to God. But if you find yourself thinking, Well, they do have a point, despite what Scripture says, you may already be compromised. God once reminded me, “There is no point outside My word that speaks to truth.” Ask God to reveal any areas where you’ve idolized someone’s words or lifestyle over His truth.

2) Do you adjust your decisions based on how your favorite influencer or celebrity does things—even when God gave you different instructions?
Whether it’s parenting, dating, or career moves, it’s easy to think, Well, she’s a Christian and doing it this way, so it must be fine. But just because someone claims Christ doesn’t mean their choices should override what God personally told you to do. Idolatry starts subtly, and before you know it, you’re following their blueprint instead of the one God gave you.

3) Have you delayed or ignored God’s instructions because a Christian leader or influencer is doing the opposite?
This is a big one, especially when it comes to controversial topics like Greek life. I won’t go too deep, but many Christians have felt convicted to leave their Greek organizations—yet stayed because a well-known pastor or Christian influencer is still in it. We have to remember that God’s word is first and final. Just because someone else is comfortable in a space God told you to leave doesn’t mean you should stay.

Time for a Heart Check

These are just a few ways to examine where deception may have crept in and where you might have tied your worth to someone else’s ideology, lifestyle, or influence.

At the end of the day, we are called to be the example—not the world.

So ask yourself: Have I allowed outside voices to shape my identity more than Christ has?

Let’s be intentional about who we follow, what we agree with, and where we find our worth.

Scriptures to Meditate On:

📖 Ezekiel 36:26
📖 Exodus 17 & Numbers 20 (Moses disobeyed God by repeating what worked in a past season instead of following God’s new instruction.)
📖 Ephesians 5:11
📖 2 Corinthians 6:17
📖 Deuteronomy 28

How did this message challenge you? What areas do you feel led to shift in your life? Let’s talk about it.