On the Road to Jerusalem: Two Masters

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”—Luke 16:13

Jesus talked more about money than He did about heaven and hell combined.  Money doesn’t seem to be a very spiritual issue to write about during Lent, but it is.  Money reveals a great deal about where our heart is, as Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”—Matthew 6:21. 

Jesus knew the seductive power of money.  It promises to give those who have it whatever they want:  power, fame, respect, comfort, beauty, you name it, but all apart from God, which is why we have to be on guard against its allure.  Money must be seen as a tool; if not, it can become a tyrant.  This is why Jesus calls money a “master.”  It is a chameleon genie that becomes whatever its possessor wants, but it continually dictates what needs to be done.  It is merciless and cares not for faith, family, or friends, but only about what can be attained for self.  As Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”—1 Timothy 6:10. 

Paul was practically describing what Jesus had taught.  It is a master and we can’t serve both it and God, which is why the rich young ruler turned away from Jesus.  When the young man came to Jesus, he was eager to show how much he loved God.  He ran up and knelt before Jesus, asking Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”—Mark 10:17.  Jesus responded with a question, “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good except God alone”—Mark 10:18.  He then proceeds to list several commandments, which the young ruler assures that he has kept since his youth.  Jesus then says to him, “You lack one thing:  go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me”—Mark 10:21.  The rich ruler tragically “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions”—Mark 10:22. 

The author of Hebrews warns us to “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’"—Hebrews 13:5. It is God alone who can give us comfort.  We must learn to be content with what we have, because there is “great gain in godliness with contentment”—1 Timothy 6:6.  We “brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”—1 Timothy 6:7-9. 

It is impossible to serve two masters and we must choose:  God or money. We can’t serve both.  Both make promises.  One promises this world, while the other promises the world to come.  But only one can fulfill its promise.  Which one do you choose?  Amen.