{"id":607,"date":"2026-07-10T17:11:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T17:11:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/?post_type=cg_article&#038;p=607"},"modified":"2026-08-25T16:59:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:59:02","slug":"no-one-can-serve-two-masters-for-either-he-will-hate-the-one-and-love-the-other-or-he-will-hold-to-one-and-despise-the-other-you-cannot-serve-god-and-money","status":"publish","type":"cg_article","link":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/article\/no-one-can-serve-two-masters-for-either-he-will-hate-the-one-and-love-the-other-or-he-will-hold-to-one-and-despise-the-other-you-cannot-serve-god-and-money\/","title":{"rendered":"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Matthew 6:24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cYou shall have no other gods before Me.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Exodus 20:3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I realize that by placing these two texts together as a heading, one might get the impression that what I intend to primarily address is the issue of money and the domineering mastery that it has over our lives. That however is not my primary focus. As important as the issue of money is, and the influence that it exerts on our lives, it is really only an indicator that highlights a greater issue behind it. Like a symptom of a greater disorder that\u2019s lying beneath the surface. But before we address the disorder, lets first take a look at this symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bible speaks a lot about money, riches and the devastating effects that it can have on people. Jesus spoke a lot about money and possessions.&nbsp; He also warned repeatedly about the dangers that a love for it can bring. Here are just a few\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He used the illustration of the giving of alms to warn against hypocritical generosity and our desire to be honored by others (Matt 6:3-6).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He used the illustration of a poor widow putting into the treasury only two small copper coins, but because of the level of sacrifice that it cost her, her gift before God was actually considered of more value than all the other wealthy contributors combined (Mark 41:44).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He used a parable about a rich man who was very productive, and wanted to store up his goods for himself so that he could take his ease and enjoy the fruits of his labor to warn against covetousness and self centeredness (Luke 12:13-21).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He used the parable of the unrighteous, unfaithful steward to warn against being unfaithful with earthly wealth, only to jeopardize your opportunity to be given true heavenly riches (Luke 16:1-13).\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He used a parable of a rich man who ignored the needs of others to warn of the eternal consequences that can come for doing so (Luke 16:19-31).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He used His interaction with the rich young ruler who wanted to obtain eternal life, but left Jesus \u201cgrieved, because he\u2026owned much property,\u201d to warn about the devastating consequences that a love for money and possessions can have (Matt 19:16-24).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus said after His interaction with this rich young ruler\u2026 \u201c\u201dTruly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God\u201d(Matt 19:23,24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To the disciples this was truly an astonishing statement, for they understood that \u201cit is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich\u201d(Prov 10:22), not the other way around. A love for money can actually make it \u201chard,\u201d nea \u201cimpossible,\u201d for a man to \u201center the kingdom of heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But why? Because \u201ca rich man\u2019s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination\u201d(Prov 18:11), and he is prone to trust in himself rather than God for his deliverance (Prov 10:15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paul warned Timothy that \u201cthose 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 a pang\u201d (1 Tim 6:9,10).&nbsp; Paul says here that there are some, even in the church who \u201cwant to get rich,\u201d that can \u201cfall into temptation\u201d and actually \u201cwander away from the faith.\u201d So this is a serious matter, indeed for all of us. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We know that we all are prone to \u201clove the world&nbsp;<em>and&nbsp;<\/em>the things of the world\u201d(1 John 2:15). We are all prone to show partiality to those who are rich (James 2), and for a variety of reasons. And yet in doing so (James says), we \u201care committing sin and convicted by the law as transgressors\u201d (James 2:9). We know that personal generosity can be an illusive quality for all of us, and that we can all be prone to say when we see a \u201cbrother or sister\u201d who is in need of even basic provisions, \u201cGo in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet not give them what is necessary for their body\u201d (James 2:15,16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course there are those who would contest the suggestion, the possibility even, that they would have a \u201clove for money, or do such a shameful thing.&nbsp; Does not the Bible call us to be \u201cgood stewards\u201d of our possessions? Indeed it does. But if our propensity is largely toward the preserving of our wealth, rather than the sharing of it (1 Tim 6:17,18), may we not be in danger of \u201cpiercing&nbsp;<em>ourselves<\/em>&nbsp;with many a pang.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you think you\u2019re not inclined to such a temperament, or becoming \u201cfunny about money,\u201dask yourself a few of the following questions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are you always looking for or expecting to get a good deal on a product or service, and prone to get upset if you don\u2019t?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you excessively scrutinize products or services you\u2019re considering purchasing, endeavoring to find a flaw or deficiency to get a reduced price?\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How inclined are you to be generous? Would others consider you to be a generous person? Or do you always need to check and see if you can afford to do so?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Would you ever give a sizable amount of money as a gift? Or are you more inclined to set up a loan, perhaps even with interest?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When a financial need is expressed at church in the congregation, are you inclined to wait first, to see if others will met the need before you offer assistance?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you gave your word to provide something for someone, would you keep your word even if it costs you to do so?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Would you ever allow yourself to be defrauded in order to deflect a slanderous report about you as a Christian?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have you ever told yourself or others that you can\u2019t afford to tithe?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp; It\u2019s unsettling how many of these can register in our own minds and hearts if we\u2019re honest. We want to be generous and share with those who have legitimate need, and yet how often we are inclined to wait, or make an excuse for why we can\u2019t at this time. Funny isn\u2019t it how possessive we can become of things that we actually don\u2019t own (Ps 24:1). Indeed \u201cwhat do&nbsp;<em>we<\/em>&nbsp;have that&nbsp;<em>we<\/em>&nbsp;did not receive?\u201d (1 Cor 4:7). Could it be that a love of money has become a master over me, or is something or someone else to blame?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>No one can serve two masters\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would propose that the real master here\u2026 is ourselves, or to be specific, our unredeemed flesh, which continues to wage war against \u201cthe new self\u201d (Eph 4:24), in \u201cthe inner man\u201d (Rom 7:22), and the Spirit of God inside us (Rom 8).&nbsp; Money, or rather a love for it, is merely a symptom of our fleshly desire to continue to be the lord of our own lives, rather than Christ. We continue to refuse or resist to part with those things which are most precious to us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus said\u2026\u201cNo one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions\u201d (Luke 14:33). Be it our money or possessions, or power and prestige, or the deepest desires and aspirations, or even the closest of our relationships (Luke 14:26), everything has to be laid at the foot of His throne. Nothing can be held back or retained.&nbsp; Jesus said to His disciples, \u201cIf anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it\u201d (Matt 16:24,25).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christ will not share his rule over us with us. We know how we respond to others who seek to impose their will upon us that have no jurisdiction over our lives. Would you ever tolerate someone coming into your home and telling you what to do? How you should live? Yet we expect Him to accept that arrangement. Or even worse, expect Him to stand aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need to remember the fact \u201cthat&nbsp;<em>we<\/em>&nbsp;are not&nbsp;<em>our&nbsp;<\/em>own\u2026 for&nbsp;<em>we<\/em>&nbsp;have been bought with a price\u201d (1 Cor 6:19,20). As Paul said\u2026\u201cThat I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me\u201d (Gal 2:20). That \u201c<em>Christ<\/em>&nbsp;died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf\u201d (2 Cor 5:14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We gave up our right to rule ourselves when we gave our lives to Christ and became Christians.&nbsp; Every time we assert our own will over His, we are in a very real sense declaring to Him\u2026 \u201cYou\u2019re not in charge, step aside.\u201d In so doing, we have again just violated the first commandment \u201cThou shalt have no other gods before Me\u201d (Deut 5:7).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a sobering thought indeed, especially when we consider how often this happens throughout our day. Many of those conscious, intentional choices that we make each day (many of which seem so insignificant that to us they don\u2019t warrant any additional thought or concern), are in fact brazen acts of rebellion against the Creator of the universe. The very One by whom \u201cwe live, and move and have our being\u201d (Acts 17:28).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet we sheepishly suggest\u2026\u201dPerhaps God didn\u2019t notice that choice? Or we tell ourselves..\u201cThat\u2019s so small, it doesn\u2019t really matter.\u201d Yet \u201cthe eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good\u201d(Prov 15:3). If \u201cSheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more the hearts of men!\u201d(Prov 15:11)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He doesn\u2019t miss anything. Indeed \u201cthere is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do\u201d (Heb 4:12). The judgement of God is extremely pervasive. Every careless word (Matt 12:36), every deed (Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10), even our \u201cmotives\u201d (Prov 16:2), and \u201cthe thoughts and intentions of the heart\u201d (Heb 4:11), we will be held accountable for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Thomas Brooks said\u2026&nbsp;<em>\u201dThere is no little sin, because there is no little God to sin against.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This principle could best be understood in the statement\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>\u201cThe gravity of an offense is tied to the majesty of the One being offended.\u201d<sup>1<\/sup><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">David clearly understood this when he said\u2026 \u201cAgainst Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight\u201d (Ps 51:4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As R.C Sproul pointed out\u2026<em>\u201dNo traitor to any king or nation has ever approached the wickedness of our treason before God. Sin is cosmic treason. Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. It is an act of supreme ingratitude toward One to whom we owe everything, the One who has given us life itself.\u201d<sup>2&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/sup><\/em>This is the reality of our rebellious sinful choices before God.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James Dolezal concurred when he said that&nbsp;<em>\u201csin is cosmic treason, but the gospel of Jesus Christ provides cosmic redemption, sufficient to forgive every sin. Sin is our supreme folly, but the death and resurrection of God\u2019s own Son is the supreme revelation of divine wisdom and the perfect antidote for human foolishness.\u201d<sup>3&nbsp;<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.\u201d&nbsp;(2 Corinthians 5:21)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lord Jesus help us to be mindful of the daily choices that we make, and enable us to&nbsp;\u201clay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God\u201d (Hebrews 12:1,2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich\u201d (2 Corinthians 8:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthian 9:15)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1.&nbsp; Author unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. R.C. Sproul,&nbsp;<em>The Holiness of God<\/em>, 151\u2013152<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. James E. Dolezal,&nbsp;<em>Sin is Cosmic Treason<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 Table Talk Magazine \u2013 October 2025<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Matthew 6:24 \u201cYou shall have no other gods before Me.\u201d Exodus 20:3 I realize that by placing these two texts together as a heading, one might get the impression that what I intend to primarily address is the issue of money and the domineering mastery that it has over our lives. That however is not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","cg_article_author":[126],"cg_article_topic":[],"cg_article_category":[],"cg_article_level":[],"class_list":["post-607","cg_article","type-cg_article","status-publish","hentry","cg_article_author-johnpeyton"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article\/607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cg_article"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article\/607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":895,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article\/607\/revisions\/895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cg_article_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article_author?post=607"},{"taxonomy":"cg_article_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article_topic?post=607"},{"taxonomy":"cg_article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article_category?post=607"},{"taxonomy":"cg_article_level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/johnpeyton.online\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cg_article_level?post=607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}