It’s One or the Other…Not Both!
Matthew 6:24 No 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.
When I was growing up, my favorite game show was “Let’s Make a Deal” with Monty Hall. I am not sure why I liked it. It could have been the excitement that each contested displayed when they were chosen to participate. It could have been the silly and outrageous costumes that the contestants wore. Or it could be the way that Monty Hall offered money to women to find weird things in their purses at the end of each show. There were many things about the show that made it unique and intriguing.
One staple in the show was the multiple choices that each contestant had to decide whether they were a winner or a loser. Winning was always in their control. They just had to choose the right prize container: Door Number 1, Door Number 2 or Door Number 3. Behind one door was a glorious prize: A new Car, a Vacation or some other coveted and valuable merchandise. Behind the other two doors were “Zonkers”. A “Zonker” prize was not only worthless but also silly: A live goat, a broken down car or some other undesirable gimmick. Then the excitement began. Pick the right door and you win the grand prize!
Never in the history of the show was the contestant allowed to have all three…NEVER! That was the entire hook! To highlight the drama as it unfolded as the contestant tried the decide which door, which curtain, or which box to choose to find the valuable prize.
In our text today, Jesus informs us of a similar choice….but with much greater consequences. In Jesus’ scenario, there are not three choices only two: We can Serve Jesus or we can serve “Mammon”. To better understand the choice that is given, we must understand the Terms. So what does “Mammon” mean? Mammon is generally defined as earthly wealth. But we must not make the mistake that a lot of quasi-theologians make. The Evil is not in the money itself, BUT our relationship with it.
1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Many people when quoting or paraphrasing this passage miss a very key word. According to this scripture, Money is NOT the root of all evil. Money is an inanimate object incapable of powers of either good nor evil. So the focus of this passage is on the User of money and their “relationship” with it. Instead the passage says that the root of all evils is the LOVE of money! Money is not, never has been, never will be the problem. The problem is OUR attitude towards it. The problem is our focus on it. The problem is our dedication to it. The problem is what we will do to gain it and hold it!
So getting back to our passage of the day, Jesus says that you cannot have both! You cannot dedicate yourself to the pursuit of Worldly Treasure while at the same time dedicating yourself to Jesus and his cause! It is Impossible! You have to choose one and Only one. Jesus, compares each to a Master. You can only serve one! It is impossible to serve both!
The truth is, at this moment of time, you have already made the decision which Master to serve! You may not have ever consciously thought about it but your decision is made. If you have not purposely and conscientiously chosen Jesus, you have chosen the pursuits of this world!
Like “Let’s Make the Deal, there was ALWAYS an option to change your mind to see if you wanted to change which door you selected. Do you lIke your current Choice? Do you want to stick with it? You don’t have to!
ALWAYS Choose Jesus!
Reflecting the SON,
Dennis Hogan
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
Thank you so much!
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