Serving Two Masters

The attention money receives in the world cannot be overstated, especially in the world of work and business. For good reason – it is a primary tool for how we go about our days. In our work, we trade our time and ingenuity for it. We dream of it, spend it, save it and stake our reputations on it.

Since money is a tool, we often imagine it is us who controls it. Have you ever considered that it could become your master? That sounds extreme, but it’s not that far-fetched.

For the Christ-follower, it can happen when we’re unaware and presume we’re immune to its effects. Money is a powerful tool, so it is easy to get swept up in the desperate pursuit of it – and ultimately, imagine that the accumulation of resources can secure our future. Jesus warned us about this quite frequently, including a passage in the Sermon on the Mount:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

(Matthew 6:24)

Jesus didn’t say you cannot have both God and money. He said you cannot serve them. It sounds to me that in this comparison, Jesus is suggesting that you can’t invest your life in both.

Where are you investing?

Awareness of the attitude of our hearts is key. A primary threat I’ve observed is the danger of comparison. If you’re a competitive person, it’s far too easy to look around and see everything as a contest to see who gets the most, especially at work – the most money, the best title and the greatest access to power.

A great way to combat this threat is to reimagine what work (and money) is about – is it about attaining a certain lifestyle, or is it a way to honor God as an outlet for your gifts? Every job comes with an income, and we all must pay the bills. But most of the time our struggles come with an expectation beyond just the necessities of life and the rewards for our talent. This is the common route that leads into materialism because more will never be enough. The pitfall is that we lull ourselves to sleep into imagining that there is a certain amount that will satisfy.

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

(Matthew 16:26)

You’re probably familiar with that quote from Jesus. Jesus was not afraid to discuss money matters in his teaching – in fact, 11 of Jesus’ 40 parables referenced money to teach us about spiritual truths. Most of them were warnings not to get ensnared by worldly possessions.

Jesus’ parables teach us that worldly riches are fleeting – and that in pursuit of them we can forfeit our soul. Take for example the parable of the “rich fool” from Luke 12.

Jesus informs a man who was desperately focused on accumulating resources that he would die later that day. The man spent so much of his energy hording his wealth that the aim of his life was misplaced. And ultimately, he invested his life’s work into things he would never enjoy. Jesus called this behavior foolish because the man missed a greater investment of his life.

The fool’s master – money – provided no return on investment.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

(Luke 12:14)

Leading in this arena at work doesn’t mean taking a pledge of poverty or denying a greater salary. It doesn’t mean ignoring fair compensation for the work you do. What it means is balancing the desires of your heart between the pull of the world (materialism) and the eternal kingdom of God (trust). It also means looking different than those around you in terms of how you talk about money – but more importantly – how you demonstrate the importance of it.

It also means recognizing the threat of comparison. The aim of my heart is to always take inventory of God’s blessings before I admire what’s across the street. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a rich fool.

If you serve God, realize you have a competing master in the form of money. Make a commitment to admit its ability to become a master in your life – and be aware of where you’re truly investing.

The Better Word:

1. What do you seek – spiritual wealth or worldly wealth? If you aim for both, be very careful about your priorities and what is getting your attention. Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into heaven (Matthew 19:24). This doesn’t mean that if you happen to be wealthy, you’re doomed. It means you must guard your heart.
2. God is not opposed to prosperity – every blessing is a gift from him. However, humans instinctively struggle with worshipping the blessing instead of the Blesser. Focus today on what blessings you do have – and give God the glory. If it doesn’t feel like enough, talk to God and be honest with Him.
3. Self-worth and net worth are not the same. In a world wrought with identity crises, mental health challenges and despair, remind yourself that no amount of resources – whether real or imagined – will satisfy your spiritual needs. Think of that when it comes to your career, your talents and your future.