““No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise t...
““No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”” (Luke 16:13, NKJV)
While Jesus did not commend what the dishonest manager did, (Luke 16:1-13), He noted that he was shrewd and careful to plan ahead for his own future well-being. The application for believers seems to be that we should be diligent to invest our resources in things that will reap a spiritual, eternal reward.
Jesus also adds that we cannot serve God and money (Luke 16:13). Many people who claim to be Christians, really seem to have money as their top priority, and God as their third or fourth. First, they invest thousands of dollars and years of time, to get their education. Why? So they can maximize their money earning potential, yet claim they're "doing their best" for God? So they can earn enough money to keep up with the Jones? So they can live happily ever after?
Many people will follow a job from place to place. If their job moves, they move. If they can make more money somewhere else, or if it will advance their career potential, they move. Pretty soon, you see that their whole life was primarily centered around money, and that they’ve invested very little in things that matter for eternity. These kinds of people, I believe, are serving money, not God.
The Bible says,
Jesus also adds that we cannot serve God and money (Luke 16:13). Many people who claim to be Christians, really seem to have money as their top priority, and God as their third or fourth. First, they invest thousands of dollars and years of time, to get their education. Why? So they can maximize their money earning potential, yet claim they're "doing their best" for God? So they can earn enough money to keep up with the Jones? So they can live happily ever after?
Many people will follow a job from place to place. If their job moves, they move. If they can make more money somewhere else, or if it will advance their career potential, they move. Pretty soon, you see that their whole life was primarily centered around money, and that they’ve invested very little in things that matter for eternity. These kinds of people, I believe, are serving money, not God.
The Bible says,
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NKJV)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIV)
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2, NKJV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5 NIV)The proper use of money then, is to invest it in the kingdom of God, and ministries that will reap an eternal reward. We should stay content with food and clothing. We should should serve God, not money.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV)
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