"You cannot serve God and mammon."
Luke 16:13
A man said to a friend who was a millionaire, "It must be wonderful to have so much money. You never have to worry about the monthly bills." The millionaire responded, "That doesn't mean that I don't have plenty to worry about now. I worry about my investments in the stock market, people trying to sue me, as well as a thousand other things. I spent the first half of my life worrying about how to become a millionaire. Now I am spending the last half of my life worried about how to keep it. Millionaires just have more to worry about."
Jesus made it clear. You cannot have two masters. We can't serve God and mammon. When He uses the word mammon, He is talking about wealth in this world. We have a choice to make. In the story of the rich young ruler, Jesus told him to give all that he possessed to the poor and to take up his cross and follow Him. He went away sadly because he had great riches. In a covenant relationship with God, all things that the Lord has is ours (Romans 8:32). Likewise, all that we have belongs to Him. He has the right to ask us to give all things.
A dad gave his six-year old daughter a bag of candy. She was so happy. Then, he asked her to give him a piece of candy. She looked sad to say, "No daddy, this is my candy." He asked, "Why wouldn't you give daddy one piece of candy? I gave it all to you." God has given us all things. Everything that we have comes from His gracious hand. Does He not have the right to ask all things of us? We cannot serve two masters. We have a choice to make. It is God or mammon. Choose your master.
Lord, deliver us from serving things that we may serve You.
