The Dearest Idol I Have Known

WORDS: William Cowper, 1859 (st. 1); Ryan Cornett, 2025

MUSIC: William Tans'ur, 1734

TUNE: BANGOR (C.M.)

The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from Thy throne,

And worship only Thee.

(Matthew 6:21, Ezekiel 14:3, 1 John 5:21)

Such futile ways I oft design,

And lean on what I see;

Help me walk not in what is mine,

But trusting, follow Thee.

(Proverbs 3:5-7)

Though people's vain yet pleasing praise

Would tempt my heart with glee,

Help me far loftier aims to raise,

And boast alone in Thee.

(Colossians 3:1-2, 1 Corinthians 1:31)

With swelling fruit from fertile ground

In barns that bursting be,

Help me, when earthly goods abound,

To treasure naught but Thee.

(Luke 12:16-21)

Life's borrowed breath so swiftly flies,

A shadow soon to flee;

Help me, before the grave or skies,

To give my all for Thee.

(Job 33:4, James 4:14, Romans 12:1)

About the Hymn

Cowper's original stanza stuck with me for months after I saw it in an old hymnal with no attached tune. It's simple, piercing, and honest. I once found myself praying it; how many "dear idols" am I still holding onto?

This hymn grew out of that prayer. I wanted to carry Cowper's petition through to some specific parts of life where idolatry enters in: trusting my own plans, craving praise, holding too tightly to comfort, and prioritizing efforts for my own gain. Each stanza is a small confession, and a plea for God to help me treasure Him more.

I chose the tune BANGOR because of its weight — it feels like a tune that makes you slow down and listen. My hope is that this hymn might do for someone else what it did for me: expose hidden loves, and help refocus the heart on Christ.