Two Masters

Two Masters

In this world, there are two masters. Every person has to serve one or the other. The name of one is God, the other, Mammon. Matt. 6:24. If you serve God, it is impossible to serve mammon; and if you serve mammon, you cannot serve God.

The whole world worships mammon (money), and wears itself out for it. In the workplace, conversations about more wages, retirement benefits, reductions in pay, etc., are just as common as bread. A person can get just about anything here on earth for money. That is why money is worshiped as a god. And so, in reality, the world has only one god and that is mammon. Most crimes, and the worst crimes, are usually committed to get money. Mammon brings honor and esteem. It gives children the possibility to go to the best schools, and people can satisfy their selfish ambitions in every way. Corruption follows closely on the heels of mammon, because all corruption that is in the world comes through lust, and the lusts are satisfied with the help of the god of this world, mammon.

No one can serve two masters. If a servant of the Lord turns and starts serving mammon, the light that was in him also turns and becomes darkness. How great is that darkness! That is written precisely in the context of serving mammon: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Read Matthew 6.

Anxiety can drive a servant of the Lord to switch masters. The specific circumstances are immaterial.

That is why the Lord warns so strongly against worrying about what we will eat and drink and what we will wear. “For after all these things the Gentiles seek.” When the light in a servant of the Lord becomes darkness, he has switched masters. No one can serve God and mammon. The one you serve pays your wages. Usually mammon pays very well, so it is tempting to serve him. But he also gives a bad conscience, darkness, greed, etc. For the love of money is a root of all evil.

When we serve the Lord in spirit and in truth, we receive earthly things. Maybe we do not get as much as some other people, but we get what we need, and more than that is unnecessary. In addition, we get a good conscience, fellowship with the Father and the Son and all the saints—and later, eternal life and glory.

If you have begun to serve Him and sanctified Christ as Lord in your heart, continue in that and do not let external influences compel you to serve another cruel master. For no person can serve two masters.