“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6.24)

How do I know which one I am serving?

In a world created by God but run by money, how can I test the true nature of my heart?

It seems complicated, but there is a simple test:

Do we treat people as a commodity?

To the extent we treat people as a commodity we are serving money and not God.

If money defines us, everyone differs in value:

• A friend is worth more than a stranger
• A person of wealth is worth more than a person in poverty
• Someone with connections out ranks someone without them

When money is our master everything is seen from a monetary mindset. Some people are worth more than others.

If God defines us, everyone has the same value:

• The newly conceived child and the victim of gang violence of the streets of Chicago
• The new boss who likes you and the new boss who has it out for you
• The faithful wife and the unfaithful ex-wife
• The political ally and the political foe

When God is our master, everyone’s value is determined by their Creator, not by what they can provide to us. How we treat them is defined by their Creator, not what they can do for us.

Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money.” The test revealing which we are serving is far more simple than we like to admit.

We serve money every time we:

• demean our political opponent to score a cheap point
• slander our office foe to win sympathy
• stereotype another as being less moral or patriotic
• feel superior to someone because of our job, income, or station in life

We serve God every time we:

• respect human dignity
• show empathy
• defend someone with whom we disagree

“You cannot serve God and money.” Which are you serving?

 

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