Bible Verse of the Day Wednesday January 25th, 2023

Luke 16:13 "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."

In the Book of 1 Kings (1 Kings 18:21), Elijah went in front of God’s people and asked them how long they would waver between two opinions. The Prophet wanted to know when they would choose between the one true God and the false God Baal. James cautioned all Christians that indecisiveness and double-mindedness cause instability in every way (James 1:8). Jesus taught that we could not serve two masters; we will either have hatred for one and love for the other or be dutiful to one and reject the other (Matthew 6:24). Jesus made it clear that we cannot seek after fame and fortune and serve God simultaneously. One will, more often than not, get in the way of the other. This biblical teaching is not to say that one cannot be successful in the world and serve God; however, there will always be a conflict of interest whenever there is a choice between two loyalties.

Money makes for a remarkable servant but a terrible master, and Jesus taught all then and all eyes that fall on His teaching now that we cannot live for God when our priorities are focused on worldly matters. Jesus taught that trying to serve two masters, God and money, was impossible. If one believes it can happen, they are under the influence of Satan and deceived.

Some believe that only the very rich fall into this trap and snare of Satan; however, a person does not need to possess great wealth to love earthly riches. The one without earthly riches that are spending all their efforts seeking fame and fortune and not seeking after God is still serving money over God. This Bible lesson is not to say that one that follows God cannot possess great fortunes, but when money possesses the person, their hearts become hardened, and their vision becomes narrowed to self-preservation. The wealth of a person seeking after God is a great blessing because they use their wealth to help those around them that are less fortunate than themselves.

This golden biblical principle does not stop with wealth alone but anything that takes the place of our faith in Christ Jesus for our every need. Jesus has encouraged all that follow and believe in Him to lay up treasure in Heaven where no earthly power can destroy it, and no human can take it away (Matthew 6:19-20). Where we accumulate our treasure is where our hearts will be.