You can’t serve two masters. Jesus warns us of this in Matthew 6:24 KJVS,
“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.”
In this passage, Jesus is teaching his disciples to trust God for their needs instead of trusting in earthly riches. But, I would like to expand on the first part of this verse. “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.” because it is relevant in every area of life, not just money.
Some people are so caught up in their culture, membership in an organization, their race, etc. Anything you place above God and his commandments, you have created an idol god in your life. You can’t serve God and an idol, too. God is a jealous God. He will not compromise His Word or share His glory or place in your heart with any idol to accommodate your beliefs and devotion to anything that you place above Him and His Word. That means you, as a true Christian and disciple of Christ, can’t support any organization or political party that supports and encourages sin. Plain and simple. Your dedication to your culture and/or race is not an excuse in the eyes of God. He requires your total devotion. It’s all or nothing with God. Either you serve Him completely, or you do not serve Him at all. Choose this day who you will serve.
1 John 2:15-17 NKJV
[15] Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. [17] And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Scripture References:
Exodus 34:14 KJV
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Exodus 34:14 NIV
Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Revelation 3:15-16 KJV
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:15-16 NIV
[15] I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! [16] So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Joshua 24:15 NIV
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
1 John 2:3-6 NIV
[3] We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. [4] Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [5] But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 5:3-5 NKJV
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. [4] For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. [5] Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Deborah K. Givens, Admin.
