"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew 6:24
I have heard it says that either we have our money or our money has us. It is true. If we are not careful, money can become an idol. It can become the thing that occupies our time, attention, and affection. When this happens, we have placed money in the spot that only God deserves. Because of this, Scripture commands us to let go of the idol of money and turn to God, the only One worthy of our time, attention, and affection.
Jesus made it clear that nothing must compete against God for the number one place in our lives. As he was teaching one day, he explained, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other" (verse 24). He made it clear that no one can serve two different things. As human beings, we were not meant to have divided loyalties. Next, Jesus explained, "You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money" (verse 24). We cannot serve both God and money. This is because God will not compete with any person or thing for our time, attention, or affection. He wants to have first place in our lives. When we have another thing competing for our attention, like money, we value money over Him. It was never intended to be this way.
Jesus will not compete for first place with anyone or anything in our lives, including money. That is because He is God and deserves every ounce of our attention, time, and devotion. Will you place Him in His rightful position of Lord over all today? He is worthy of your worship!
Read Matthew 6:24 out loud. After reading and thinking about the verse, take an honest assessment. Has money taken a far more significant role and place in your life than ever intended? Has it become an idol? Confess that area to God. Tell Him you are sorry for how you made money and idol. Commit to worshiping Him and only Him, and ask Him for Help as you seek to do this.
Matthew 6:22-27
"Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
25 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"
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