Undivided Love

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Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Devotion:

One of the most challenging decisions we face as followers of Christ is how to handle our money and possessions. The world tells us that money is the key to happiness, security, and success. It urges us to pursue wealth, accumulate more, and enjoy the pleasures it can buy. But Jesus warns us that money can also be a dangerous trap, a false god that competes for our loyalty and devotion.

Jesus does not say that money is evil or that having wealth is wrong. He acknowledges that money is a necessary and helpful resource in this life. He benefited from some wealthy supporters' generosity (Luke 8:1-3). He also praised those who used their money wisely and faithfully, such as the poor widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41-44), or the shrewd manager who made friends with his master's money (Luke 16:1-9).

But Jesus also knew the power and the peril of money. He saw how money can corrupt the heart, blind the eyes, and choke the word of God (Matthew 19:16-24; 13:22). He saw how money can make people greedy, selfish, and dishonest (Luke 12:13-21; 16:10-15). He saw how money can create divisions, conflicts, and injustices among people (James 2:1-7; 5:1-6).

That is why Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters. We have to choose whom we will love and whom we will despise, whom we will be devoted to, and whom we will reject. We cannot have a divided allegiance, a double-mindedness, a half-hearted commitment. We have to decide whether we will serve God or money, whether we will seek his kingdom or the world's, whether we will trust his provision or our own.

How do we make this choice? By examining our hearts, our priorities, and our actions. We can ask ourselves what we value most, what we think about most, and what we spend most. Consider how we earn, save, give, and use our money. By reflecting on how our money affects our relationship with God and others. By praying for God's wisdom and grace to guide us in this critical area of discipleship.

Money is a gift from God, but it can also be a snare. Let us use it wisely, generously, and faithfully, as servants of God and not of money.

Prayer:

            Dear Lord, we come as people who are easily enticed by the things of this world. Keep us, we pray, from desiring money and the things of this world more than we desire to know and follow you. Please lead us to worship you with undivided hearts. Help us to be a people who exhibit true love for you in all we do and say. Amen. 

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