Who Are You Serving?

Who Are You Serving?

Exodus 20:3-6
"You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Idolatry, in Judaism and Christianity, is the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God. Anything that takes precedence over God in one's life is an idol. God commanded the children of Israel to serve Him only because idolatry and spiritual adultery is abominable. It is impossible to love God when one's mind is occupied with other gods or temporal things of this world. This is the reason Jesus said in Luke 16:13, 

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Everyone is serving something or someone, whether or not that fact is acknowledged. The reality is that you are either serving God or Satan. Jesus spoke about the benefits and consequences of choosing either the narrow path or the broad way.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

The broad way leads to destruction while providing the temporal comfort and luxury of this world. Many tread the broad way, deceived by the devil and heading towards hell. Many in the Church have been deceived into thinking that fame and fortune are indications of true spirituality. 

A rich young man who came to Jesus discovered that his enormous wealth did not give him any advantage as far as eternal life is concerned. The pleasures this world has to offer are temporary and do not extend beyond the grave. The Bible says, "And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Mark 10:20-22). The rich man had come running to Jesus, had knelt before Him and had asked the question, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). What was he thinking? Was he sincere? He probably thought he would be commended for his business acumen and entrepreneurship and asked to do something that would cost him nothing. He did not reckon that each follower of Jesus has a cross to bear. He thought he controlled his wealth but in reality, his wealth controlled him. His enormous wealth had become an idol. He served mammon rather than God. Very sad!

Today, many Christians are caught in the rat race of worldly pursuits and gyrate or spin without making any Kingdom impact. A lot of noise is generated by virtue of public applause but Heaven is silent because the chosen courses are off-track. They are on the broad way, being deceived by Satan that they are doing well. After all, they have the trappings of this life to show for their academic brilliance, ingenuity, business success, professional status and worldly applause. They have become idolaters serving the god of mammon (a demon of Satan)  and relegating Almighty God to the background. Interestingly, this reality is almost imperceptible just like the situation with the rich man could not have been perceived by many just by external observation. 

God told Prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Prophet Samuel was almost deceived by the outward appearances of the older sons of Jesse, David's father. But God knew them and had chosen David, a man after His heart. Remember God cannot be deceived or mocked for whatever a man sows, he will reap (Galatians 6:7) 

A subtle and insidious form of idolatry is gripping the Church of Christ today - mammon worship. Many flock to churches to hear prophecies and promises of wealth, influence, popularity, etc. Yet, Jesus commanded His disciples to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That means every decision we take in life must be taken with reference to God's will, found in His Word. God will never do anything contrary to His Word and the Holy Spirit will never lead anyone down a path that is opposed to the Word of God. Do you have an idol in your heart? Is there something you love more than God? If so, that thing is an idol and that makes you an idolater.

Who are you serving? Are you serving God or mammon? It should be noted that anything (possessions, family, etc) that takes precedence over God is an idol and must be put away. No wonder God spoke to Moses and the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:5, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]." (AMP). Jesus reiterated this verse of Scripture in Mark 12:30. God demands and deserves our full attention, our full worship, our full dedication and we should seek Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6). Rewards are only for those who seek Him diligently. 

Examine yourself today and ask the question, "Where is my heart?" Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.". Where is your treasure? Heaven or earth? If your heart is here on earth, then you are an idolater. Short and simple! What that means is that you are not serving God but Satan. Yes, it's a serious statement but it is true. Your treasure cannot be on earth and your heart in Heaven. That is an impossibility. Serving mammon is demonic and therefore satanic. 

In the wilderness, the hearts of the children of Israel were turned away from God onto a golden calf that was made by Aaron and others (Exodus 32:1-6). In verse 21 of Exodus 32, Moses asked Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?" Idolatry, in whatever form is a great sin and God will not tolerate it. What is that idol in your life? Is it your father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, your life - job, possessions, status, travel opportunities, business, etc? Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

God frowns at idolatry and hates it because it is from the pit of hell, an instrument of the devil and designed to put people under the bondage of sin and the devil. Turn to God today, in repentance and He will deliver you. If you turn away from your sins today in repentance and receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, you shall be saved and become a child of God (John 1:12). Jesus loves you. May God bless you.