‘You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
The original Greek of this verse says that we cannot serve God and mammon(an Aramaic word meaning money or possessions). Jesus personifies mammon here, revealing its demonic power to hold us in slavery. Money is supposed to be a tool we use for good. In fact, it often becomes like a demon that possesses and controls us. For this reason, Jesus is clear that we cannot serve both God and mammon.
How tempting it is for us to try and prove Jesus wrong about God and mammon! We want to serve God. Yet, if we’re honest with ourselves, most of us are servants of mammon. When I buy something I don’t need so that I’ll look good to others, I’m serving mammon. When I neglect to give away generously what God has entrusted to me so I can have more luxury items for myself, then I’m serving mammon. When I spend more time worrying about money than I do seeking the kingdom of God, mammon demonstrates its grip on my heart.
How can we free ourselves from slavery to mammon so that we might serve God wholeheartedly? We begin by honestly admitting our desire for mammon. We confess our mixed loyalties to God, seeking his forgiveness and cleansing. We break the spiritual domination of mammon by giving generously and sacrificially.
✍️ CB