No one can serve two masters. …. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 6:24
Everything in life demands undivided attention. Be it your job, studies, business or anything you do in life. Even while cooking, if attention is somewhere else, food may get spoiled. Jesus here is saying the same.
One cannot serve God and money together. Putting your trust and faith in money and not on God is what he is referring here. Its not wrong to possess materialistic wealth but its about placing your priority on your wealth & riches and on God at the same time. The key word here is “SERVING”
“Command those 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.”
1 Timothy 6: 17
And in the very next verse, Paul is saying be generous and willing to share.
Jesus says,” Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, ….”
Matthew 6:25
Anxiety, tension of the future makes us more vulnerable to money and we tend to forget the promises of God that He will provide us everything.
Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6: 21
So when it comes to serve the Lord by mentoring people, sharing the gospel or even meditating the scriptures, the thought of money, wealth and riches should not come in mind and focus should be on God’s work only. We see so many leaders, missionaries, pastors today claim to do Lord’s work but sadly their focus has turned from God’s work to fulfilling of their materialistic needs. God said in Exodus 20:3,” You shall have no other gods beside me.” We are making money our God while serving the only God our creator. Satan who is so subtle in his ways, turning God’s people to rely on generating wealth and materialistic possessions and not on God, Jehovah Jireh.
Testimony
When I came to the Lord, I started going to Hyderabad every month to attend the Church and be in the presence of the Lord. Everyone used to say in the Church how come I manage to come every month and I used to be very much surprised how come their focus was not on God but on why I come and how much I spend. Gradually I lost interest in work and instead of waiting on the Lord, I left working and lost all the work. Realizing my mistake, I asked forgiveness and put my complete trust in His provision. After almost 6 months, God again opened a door for me and taught me that He doesn’t want His children to leave the world and be at the mercy of the people of this world but how being in this world, one should serve the Lord with all that one has got. I praise God for teaching me the life’s most valuable lesson practically.
Prayer
May God guide us all not to become slave to money but have the mind to only serve Him with all that we possess!
In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Sol.Neha