CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
We all are going to serve someone or something. We might get a good idea of what we are serving by taking the time to look at our schedules, priorities, affections, and activities. Are we serving God, serving materialistic goals, serving sin, or serving self?
It is well known that our generation is bound by higher debt and financial bondage more than any other time in our nation’s history. Monetary problems are causing tremendous stress and wrecking families. People are working extra jobs, profaning the Lord’s Day for extra hours at work, and neglecting the financial support of God’s work because of poor stewardship.
More and more, people are slaves to “mammon.” Mammon is another word for riches or wealth. One reason so many are in such bondage to mammon is because they are serving self. Unwise decisions are made because of unrestrained appetites and undisciplined lives. Paul wrote to Timothy in II Timothy 3:2 that the last days would be characterized by men who were “lovers of their own selves, covetous.” Materialism has gripped our society, and God’s children are not exempt. However, Jesus tells us a great truth in our text: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” It is impossible to serve both God and riches. There is no question that we are to serve God with our lives. Jesus did not save us that we might continue to serve sin and self.
Paul said it this way in Romans 6:17-18, “ye were the servants of sin…ye became the servants of righteousness.” We were delivered from the slavery to sin when we were saved, in order that, we might serve God. We cannot serve both God and mammon. This does not mean that possessions are evil, only that we are to serve God and not things. The temptation is to serve both, but Jesus said it is not possible, “for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” We can be servants of only one master. Many have sought to serve mammon while they are serving God, but inevitably they end up serving mammon. Riches do not, nor can they ever, save us or satisfy us. We have to choose who or what we will serve. Will it be God or mammon?