“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
As I was growing up, I remember hearing it said, “If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.” Christians are to live under the motto “Jesus is Lord.” But, I am afraid a line from an old “Queen” song may be more fitting as a motto for many professing Christians today. The song entitled “I Want it All” says, “I want it all and I want it now.” There is a system of thinking and living that is contrary to God’s way. Jesus calls it “mammon.” The word “mammon” signifies money, but it more broadly symbolizes the way of humanity. The human way and system is based on sight and not faith. It is based on flesh and not spirit. Its focus is the here and now. Its foundation is a desire to please self.
The foundation for our lives is the desire to please God, and the Bible is the standard for God’s people. In it we are given the way of the life for the fully-devoted follower of Christ. The Bible contains life-changing truths for each day, each decision, and each direction of life. A gospel truth that we need to live by is that we are called to, “Live as we are, not as we were.” Paul says, “If any person is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed and the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
The great temptation for those who claim the name of Christ is to attempt to live a “two-master” life. Jesus emphatically states, “No one can serve two masters.” For the believer, there is only room for one master and his name is Jesus Christ. Yet, many Christians are trying to live the “two-master” life. We see so many who want to claim an afterlife in heaven, but live a life that resembles and the master of hell. The Bible teaches that you cannot claim to know Christ and continually live a life that follows another standard besides the Bible. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin, not so we could remain in a life of sin. Jesus died so we could live daily for Him and Him alone.
Do you claim to follow Christ? Then for heaven’s sake, do not attempt to live the “two-master” life that Christ says is impossible. Live your life for the Lord!
Lord, forgive me for trying too often to serve other people and other things besides You. You are forever Lord and Master of my life. Let me live my life to bring You glory. Amen.
Pastor Andy
