Text- Matthew 6:24 – “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon”
Seriousness in money matters; zealousness in kingdom matters! That should be your watchword… anything short of this will either land you in frustration on earth or damnation in eternity. We have said much about this already yesterday.
We established that a man is said to be serving mammon when he begins to apply his love and devotion to money matters or material possessions.
Jesus refers to us as His bride, and for our relationship with him to thrive; there must be mutual love and devotion. It is therefore a form of idolatry to transfer your love and/or devotion to money, away from the Lord and His kingdom.
See what Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10 on the love of money, “For the love of money is the root of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows”
I like how John Piper explains the love of money in light of this verse. He wrote in his book, Future Grace,
“The heart that loves money is a heart that pins its hopes, and pursues its pleasures, and puts its trust in what human resources can offer. So, the love of money is virtually the same as faith in money – belief (trust, confidence, assurance) that money will meet your needs and make you happy. Love of money is the alternative to faith in God”
See those things he mentioned – hope, trust, faith, confidence, assurance, joy, satisfaction… If you derive any of these primarily from how much money or possessions you have, you are serving Mammon!
Jesus said in Mark 10:24, “… How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Paul lent his voice to this in his first letter to his son, Timothy. He wrote in 1Timothy 6:17, “Command them who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” Ponder on this beloved, who are you serving – Mammon or God?
PRAYER
Lord, you alone will I worship; you alone will I serve. Help me to be a faithful steward of the financial and material blessings you entrust me with in Jesus Name.
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