Perhaps more insidious in our culture are the gods that might go by the names of Success, Materialism, Sex, Self-fulfillment and Control. Whatever poison we choose, it's still poison. And that's why God is so ruthless when it comes to idolatry. He tells us not to worship other gods because they'll kill us. The intention, in setting up the trap, was to kill the bird.
Idolatry is poisonous.
We think that Success will finally make us feel good about ourselves. We think that Materialism will add spice to life. We think that Sex will meet our relational needs. We think that Control will protect us from harm. When we think this way, we're thinking exactly the way Satan wants us to think.