“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.”

      Matthew 6:24

With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). But when Jesus tells us of an impossibility for us, He means it. If there is something that He says we cannot do, we simply cannot do it. Today’s passage points to another observable truth in our culture. Money, it seems to drive many in this world. But Jesus tells us that whether we are wealthy or poor, one thing that we cannot do, is pursue money as the primary focus of our lives and serve Him at the same time. “No one can serve two masters.” 

Let’s begin with “no one.” This is all inclusive and even though there are many who try to live like the world and make the pursuit of material things the center of their lives and claim the name of Jesus at the same time, Jesus makes it abundantly clear…we cannot serve money and Him at the same time. “Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Love and devotion or hatred and a despising…this is the tension for mankind as we live in a materially-focused, temporal world. We can do all kinds of “mental gymnastics” to justify the pursuit of money and success but God knows where are hearts are positioned and, if we are honest with ourselves, we do too. Consider the following:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

  Matthew 6:19-21

This is, yet, another simple instruction from our Lord. Staying true to the bulk of scripture, He tells us what not to do and what we should be doing instead. Do not! Do not do what? The answer: “Store up for ourselves treasure on earth.” But what are the masses so focused on in our modern culture? Often it’s the accumulation of wealth, possessions, and opportunity. There is nothing wrong with hard work and getting paid for our endeavors if, (and that’s a big “if”), we are seeking the Lord first (Matthew 6:33). As long as we are following Him rather than following our own desires and then asking Him to bless them, we are on the right track. But having said that, this is not the norm for many in our world today. Many spend most of their time, are devoted to, and prioritize the accumulation of wealth. Some even find their identity in what, they believe, they have accomplished on their own. Contrast that with the instruction of Christ. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Jesus even reveals that these temporal things that we are storing up for ourselves are not even secure. “Moth and rust” reminds us that temporal things do not last. “Thieves breaking in and stealing,” reminds us of the fallen and selfish nature of all of mankind in our natural state apart from Christ. Jesus wants us to understand the futile and deceptive nature of chasing after material things (Mark 4:19). 

So if we are not to be storing up for ourselves material wealth in this life, what are we to be doing? “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” Talk about a secure and wise investment! Investing in the future (no not retirement), investing in eternity, is where the heart of every born again believer in Jesus is to be firmly rooted. And Jesus reminds us that, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This is not about what we do for a living rather this is about the priority of our hearts and in whom or what we place our devotion. Consider the following: 

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

        1 Timothy 6:17-19

Some important points in this passage. There are wealthy and poor people in this life but for us to determine the quality of life on the basis of money alone is incredibly deceptive and misguided. In our world today, it’s not difficult to observe people who seem to have everything (materially speaking) yet have fallen into many griefs and deceptions leaving them empty and, quite frankly, not even enjoying all of those things that they have accumulated. This doesn’t seem to be the exception among the wealthy rather it seems to be the rule. Contrast that to a Christian who lives a more modest life (materially speaking) yet they walk in the power, protection, and provision of Christ in their lives. These people are truly alive and enjoying all of the blessings that God has given them and they can do so because they aren’t focused on material things nor are they chasing after them. One person, full of things, yet empty while the other, modest yet fully alive…this is observable truth! 

In the Timothy passage, notice that even the wealthy are to be instructed not become conceited (a sure sign that something has gone wrong in their spiritual life) rather they are to fix their hope on God, not the “uncertainty of riches.” These wealthy people are to be “rich in good works,” “generous,” and “ready to share.” They are to be building on the solid foundation that is Jesus Christ and in turn, talking hold of that “which is life indeed.” So can there be wealthy Christians? Yes! But their wealth has taken a back seat to that of serving Christ. Remember…Jesus says, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” As much as we may try, either Christ and what He desires or money and what we desire will ultimately sit on the thrones of our lives. 

This is why Paul warns us about the love and desire for money. Consider the following:

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:9-10

When we want to “get rich,” we are falling into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires. The pursuit and acquiring of money comes with a price and for the Christian and unbeliever alike, it can be our undoing. Why? Because these temptations, snares, and harmful desires all play to our fallen nature. And as these temptations play to our fallen nature, they have the ability to plunge us into ruin and destruction. We see it all of the time. Observable verification that these words are full of power and truth. Yet mankind often continues on his shortsighted, selfish, and futile pursuit of those things which simply do not last. And all of this to the exclusion of taking hold of the life that is offered to anyone who will lay it all down at the foot of the cross (Luke 9:23). That’s why we, as Christians, must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us from these trappings!

Let’s conclude by remembering what Jesus says about the wealthy…it is difficult for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23-24.) Why? For all of the reasons that we have covered…largely that material wealth comes with a price, brings other ungodly elements into our lives, and isn’t conducive to the selfless life necessary for living in the power of the Spirit of God! 

One quick side note: The provision of God is far superior to anything that we could ever accomplish for ourselves!

But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.

      Psalm 34:10b