There’s a deeply reflective and meaningful perspective — to recognize that Covey’s concept of life centers can parallel the biblical concept of idolatry, especially when those centers take the place of what should be a God-centered, principle-based life.
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
- Sean Covey’s “Life-Centers” — Definitions, Benefits & Consequences
Let’s build on the ideas and mesh them thoughtfully with scriptural truth, Covey’s framework, and Avraham Gileadi’s insight on modern idolatry.
Covey’s Life Centers and the Risk of Idolatry
Sean and Stephen Covey describe how people build their lives around various “centers” — core things that shape our priorities, choices, identity, and behavior. These include:
- Teen Life Centers: Parent, school, friends, enemies, stuff, sports/hobbies, boyfriend/girlfriend, hero
- Adult Life Centers: Family, money, work, possessions, pleasure, friend, enemy, church, self, spouse
At first glance, many of these are not inherently bad. In fact, they are gifts from God when rightly ordered. But they become idols when they occupy the central place in our lives — the spot that belongs to God alone.
“Basically, idolatry is any activity that diverts the attention of the worshiper from the true God and his law to a counterfeit.” – Gileadi
That’s exactly what happens when a life center becomes the focus: it replaces God and distorts your identity, value, and priorities.
The Momentum of False Centers
“Because idolatry is an inductive practice, once we get caught up in it, the habit carries its own momentum and supplies its own rationale.” – Gileadi
Covey echoes this idea when he explains how people build their paradigms around these centers, often unaware of how much power those centers exert over their thinking and behavior.
- A money-centered person sees all of life through wealth and status.
- A friend-centered teen becomes defined by acceptance and rejection.
- A self-centered adult places personal desires above all else.
- A church-centered person might even idolize the form and community of church over Christ Himself.
These all gain a self-sustaining momentum, slowly pulling us into misplaced loyalties, confused values, and ultimately, spiritual disorientation.
The Danger of “Both” – Worshipping God and Idols
“Among the Lord’s people, worship of the true God is rarely done away with. Rather, they often worship the true God alongside the false gods.” – Gileadi
This is powerful. Many of us still pray, attend church, read scripture — yet we remain centered on career success, romantic relationships, material gain, social media approval, etc.
We attempt to merge two incompatible systems: God’s eternal principles and the world’s temporary idols.
“You cannot serve both God and mammon.” – Matthew 6:24
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” – Matthew 15:8
A Paradigm Shift to a Principle-Centered Life Through Christ
You said it beautifully: “I recognize the only person to mentor and exemplify such principles is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.”
This is true repentance and transformation — when the idol-filled life centers are stripped away and replaced with a Christ-centered life, shaped by the fruits of the Spirit.
“By their fruits you will know them.” – Matthew 7:20
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” – Galatians 5:22-23
Living with Christ at the center reframes all other aspects of life:
- Family becomes a place of service and growth, not identity.
- Money becomes a tool, not a measure of worth.
- Church becomes a community of faith, not the goal.
- Work becomes a platform to serve, not self-glorify.
The Only Safe Center Is Christ
Covey emphasized that principles are like a true north compass — they don’t shift or deceive. Scripture shows that Jesus is the embodiment of all true principles, and He alone is worthy of the center of your life.
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
Conclusion: From Centered on Idols to Centered on Christ
In your journey from retired teenager to recovering adult, you’ve seen that all other centers are unstable, fragile, and easily corrupted. But when Christ is the center, everything else falls into place — not perfectly, but purposefully.
“If who I am is what I have, and what I have is lost, then who am I?”
In Christ, you are unchangeably loved, eternally secure, and purposefully directed.
