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January 22 Daily Devotional

God or Mammon

Frans Bakker

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.—Matthew 6:24

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:19–24

Devotional

You cannot serve God and mammon. Whatever is most important in your life weighs the heaviest. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If your treasure is in heaven, then your heart will also be in heaven. If your treasure is in the things of this world, your heart will be in the matters of this world. A heart can never be in two places. No one can serve two masters. Ultimately, the Lord asks only for your heart, demonstrated in a life of love for Him.

Serving God and mammon means that two matters draw our heart at the same time. It is a halting between two opinions. In reality, our choice is most often made for the world and its riches. The burdens or the lusts of everyday life occupy so much time and effort that the service of the Lord amounts to little.

Our lives are barren. In such a state spiritual life cannot flourish. There is not enough love given to God, for the idols of this world occupy too much space. The cares of this world overshadow the needs of our soul. Christians have an old and a new nature. It is easy to be too comfortable with the old man and live for this world, according to the selfish desires of our flesh.

Whispers of a spiritual life can be heard occasionally. Although we are aware of spiritual truths, pure knowledge of these truths is not sufficient for godliness. Never set yourself at ease with the idea that you have some spiritual awareness within. Spiritual life must break through in your life and be fruitful. You must be a pilgrim on the earth. Most of all, you must be a stranger in your own flesh. You must learn to die to self-love in order to arise in a life of love to God and your neighbor. Your spiritual life must be a reality in your life. The truths of God must spill out in practical ways in your life through actions and responses. Service to God will be recognizable by your fellow man, for it is impossible to bring forth fruits to God and not do likewise for your neighbor.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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