Master

Master (by David Peterson)

In the middle of His famous, first sermon high on a mountain, Matthew records Jesus as saying:

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Jesus alludes that the carnal world values material treasures and money but these sentiments conflict with God.

The influential Christian author, Arthur Pink, once wrote: “These orders [love for God and love for money] are diametrically opposed. The one commands you to walk by faith; the other to walk by sight. The one to be humble; the other to be proud. The one to set your affections on things above; the other to set them on the things that are on the earth. The one to be careful for nothing; the other to be full of anxiety. The one to be content with such things as you have; the other to enlarge your desires. The one to look at the things of others; the other to look at one’s own things. The one to seek happiness in the Creator; the other to seek happiness in the creature. Is it not plain? There is no serving two such masters.”

Pink clarifies further the insight that Jesus spoke of: we cannot serve God and money simultaneously. They conflict in every way. So, the Christian must choose the Godly path.

An 8th century Irish hymn entitled “Be Thou My Vision”, translated by Eleanor Hull, points believers to the reality that God should be Lord of our hearts and our eternal focus. Stanza 3 says: “Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; thou mine inheritance, now and always; thou and thou only first in my heart, high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.”

Let us pray: Great Father in Heaven, allow your wisdom and favor to pass on to us, that your dwelling in us provides us with a holy vision that you are all that matters and money brings empty promises.