Information Related to "God and Mammon"
Audio/Video |
God and Mammon By William Miller What did Christ mean when he said we couldn't serve mammon?
hrist said clearly, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). What was Jesus Christ talking about?
Much time has passed for me, and much water has passed under that particular bridge. Now I look back with experience, insight and concern for others. I am perfectly aware that serving mammon can result in monetary success. I know that some succeed honestly, some don't succeed at all and others cheat their way to riches. In many publications we can read about the few who succeed honestly, share that success with others and then call this God's Blessing. This looks like a good thing. But does achieving monetary success, even achieving it God's Way -- the Way of Give -- equate to real success?
My wife read this and said to me that it seemed to her that I was saying that people shouldn't work -- which I am not. The apostle Paul said that if you're capable of working and don't (that is, don't earn money), then you should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). I agree with him. That said, earning money is different from "serving mammon," as serving implies that it is the master. According to Webster's College Edition Dictionary, mammon is the false god of riches and avarice. If you are consumed by a desire to obtain wealth -- even if you say that you simply want to help others with your wealth -- you are serving mammon and fooling yourself. How is it that people do not heed this warning? Look to the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15). Jesus took some time to thoroughly explain the various shades of response possible. To summarize the parable, not everyone hears the message. Even those who are privileged to hear don't all hear the same meaning. Some respond not at all, others only for a while, and some respond powerfully and are steadfast to the end.
God has given me -- and gives me still -- every good thing that I need. What I want most right now is to daily serve my Master, God, both Father and Son. I want to serve Them for the rest of my life. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 13:9). Read our free booklet . Copyright 2009 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
||||||||||||||
Related Information:
Other Articles by William Miller
Origin of article "God and Mammon"
Keywords: mammon
Materialism: