WHO DO YOU LOVE, GOD OR MAMMON?

I have been shocked in recent times by the lukewarm attitude of many of us who claim to be Christians. It seems we have lost our focus and hence spend time pursuing the same things that unbelievers do. Today in the world, people who are wealthy are applauded and recognized. It seems that the belief embraced by most people is, in simple terms, 'Money makes a person'. Most  people see life in terms of pounds and pence OR dollars and cents. And it is a very scary phenomenon. The love of money has become deeply rooted in our societies today. Yet Jesus said, 

"No servant 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." (Luke 16:13, ESV)

Increasingly Christians are spending more and more time pursuing money. All sorts of excuses are given for their materialistic pursuits - family, cost of living, utilization of God-given abilities, etc. These reasons sound right, sensible and even spiritual. But how many of us are really sincere and honest about our financial pursuits? Let me turn the situation around to ask the question: If we suddenly lost all our money and possessions, how would we feel and what will we do?  Would we feel  lost, incomplete and totally paralyzed OR would we say like Job, "I know my Redeemer liveth..."? Please be honest.  If God is everything, as many of us profess, why would there be an overwhelming helplessness in such a situation? My brethren, I suppose the right question should be "Whom do we really trust?". Do we trust God enough to give Him everything - our tithes, family, careers, businesses, marriages, children, certificates, etc?

There is a new religion in town - it is best described as the worship of mammon. Sure enough, we probably would not see physical shrines and altars erected to the worship of mammon but our attitudes betray us. Our prayers, as a result of our greed, have become self-centered; we lack compassion for souls. The fact that millions are going to hell yearly does not bother us. Sporadic church attendances are intended to serve notice of our 'Churchianity' rather than true spirituality. Many Christians today are driven by the love of money - the type of friends they have, the places they live, the jobs they have, their cars, and so on and so on. What drives you in life? Is it the love of God or the love of money? Most would say - the love of God.  I have been in prayer meetings in which Christians have been reluctant to pray about the needs of the world but as soon as the focus of the prayers turned to personal needs (money, houses, contracts, jobs, marriage, etc), the degree of fervency rose more than 100%. What does this say of our spirituality and love for God? Make no mistake about it, the love of money is an evil we have to resist. 

Recently Bill Gates and a few other billionaires indicated their intention to donate billions of their money away - after their deaths, of course. Their intentions are commendable but I could not help wondering why they have to wait until their death. Simply because then they will no longer be around - the money will be useless to them and they will not have to fear loss of valuable resources. There is always that tendency for self-preservation in man. In much the same way, money will be of no use in heaven, therefore we must hold it lightly and use it wisely not for self-gratification but for God's glory.

If God asked you to sell all your property, give the money to the poor, give up you job and follow Him literally, would you? Many of us do not even consider or think about a question like this because we think God will not make such demands of us. We are greatly mistaken.  Peter was asked to leave his profession and means of livelihood to follow Jesus. Abraham was asked to leave familiar surroundings for a place he did not know. The young rich man was asked by Jesus to sell all his property, give the money to the poor and then follow Him. God may well ask this of any of us today. The question is, are we going to allow God have His way?

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." (ESV)

 My brethren, the love of money will drive you away from the faith - make no mistake about it. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU TO BE FOCUSED SO THAT YOU CAN EVENTUALLY MAKE HEAVEN.