Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 38
No Man Can Serve Two Masters
24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt. 6:24 KJV)
Our Lord Jesus gives the word of warning to His listeners in Matthew 6:24. This is concerning a competing spirit called “mammon” for the believer’s affection that goes against the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
“Mammon” is the Syrian god of riches or money. Jesus is depicting material wealth and possessions and the inordinate pursuit of it as a rival god to the worship of the living and true God.
I was having my breakfast and looking at the birds nearby looking for food. I am reminded of Jesus’ words:
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?(Matt. 6:26 KJV)
I am reminded of God’s care for my life. I am more precious in the sight of God than these birds. I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of the living God (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7).
I find it frightening to see men pouring their hearts and minds to acquire this world’s wealth! It will not bring true joy! It does not bring true security to life. It will lead ultimately to great disappointment.
Jesus reminds us:
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.(Matt. 6:19-21 KJV)
We are bidden to examine our hearts, if truly, God is first place in our hearts. If so, there will be that desire to worship Him, to follow and to obey His commandments.
Firstly, we would seek to put priority in the worship of God. The Lord’s Day is set aside as a day of rest and refreshing in the worship and fellowship with our God.
Listen to the practical teaching of the 4thcommandment:
8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.. (Exod. 20:8-11 KJV)
When the Israelites were in the wilderness, God instructed them on the 6thday to collect 2 portions of manna that rained from heaven. On the Sabbath day, no manna will fall from heaven. God wanted His people to know that He is the sustainer of their livelihood. He wants them to acknowledge He is the Giver of all their material possessions. If He withholds, there will be nothing. It is a truth that God’s people do well to learn and put into practice.
Jesus gave this word of promise to take care of us as we follow Him:
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:32-33 KJV)
He wants our priorities set right, first things first, begin our week in the house of God. And prove Him if He will not help you in all your endeavours.
The “Gentiles” in Matthew 6:32 is a reference to our past lives, as unbelievers, before we repent of our sins and receive Jesus Christ into our hearts as Lord and Saviour.
Seeking first the kingdom of God, putting Him first in our hearts will bring true peace and joy to our hearts. As we worship God, we bring our cares and burdens to Him in prayer. In return, He gives us His wisdom to guide us in our walk. Seeking the righteousness of God means to be obedient to His Word as written in the Bible.
Only Jesus! Only Jesus!
Only He can satisfy,
All my burdens are turned to blessings,
When I know my Lord is nigh.
The psalmist says in Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
As we exercise our faith to be obedient to His Word, we shall experience the sufficiency of God caring and leading us.
May this be our prayer:
7Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. (Prov. 30:7-9 KJV)
Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee