BEN F. VICK, JR.
Jesus Christ, from a mountain somewhere in Galilee, said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24.) These words were spoken in the context of what man’s view toward material things should be. In preceding verses, Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselvestreasures upon earth,...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,…” (Matt. 6:19, 20.) Then, in verse 33, he said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Every argument made and every sermon preached by our Lord was logical. In verses 21-24, he speaks of the heart, the eye, and service (or action). Service begins from the heart; the eye sees the object to be obtained; the will, or volition, then bows (serves or acts) in humble submission. For instance, a man desires material wealth; he places his attention upon it; and by his actions he seeks it. On the other hand, one whose heart is on things above will keep his eye on the goal and will, in turn, exert his efforts in laying up treasures in the heavenly home.
Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters.” In spite of, or in ignorance of, this statement, many think that they are the exception to this maxim. But Jesus said, “no man.” That means you, and it means me as well.
The world looks upon those who pick up the towel of service as contemptible. They are considered the low class, even though Jesus said they are the greatest. (Lk. 22:26.) Yet, in reality, all are servants, the difference being in whom or what we serve. “Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.” (Rom. 6:16.) The question each must answer is: Whom shall I serve?
In the context, God and mammon are the two masters. McGarvey says that “Mammon is a Chaldee term for riches.” (Commentary on Matthew and Mark, p. 67.) The Emphatic Diaglott’s footnote reads, “Mammon is a Syriac word for riches, which our Lord beautifully represents as a person whom the folly of men had deified.” (P. 28.) It is like “the Almighty Dollar” of which one speaks.
The reason man cannot serve two masters is because he will either “hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other.” It is impossible to serve two masters at the same time, because one’s heart will be divided; one’s eye will see double; one’s service will be one-sided. There is no middle ground.
Yet men have in ages past attempted to serve two masters at the same time. Jehoshaphat tried it. “And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Howbeit the high places were not taken away:…” (II Chron. 20:32-33.) Amaziah “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.” (II Chron. 25:2,14.) The foreigners who were brought into the cities of Samaria were taught to fear the Lord; but they, too, were doubleminded. “So these nations feared the Lord and served their graven images…” (II Kings 17:24-41.) Concerning Israel, Hosea said, “Their heart is divided.” (Hosea 10:2.) Judah followed her steps: “...Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 3:10.)
The world and too many in the Lord’s body are anxious over material possessions. They are laying up treasures upon the earth. They are plagued with poor eyesight. They are seeking other things before the kingdom of heaven. Many are filling their time in service unto the god mammon. Let each of us guard our hearts that the “they” does not become “us.” (Prov. 4:23; Lk. 12:15.) It is true that we cannot take it with us, but we can send it on ahead.
God is a jealous God. (II Cor. 11:2.) He demands our all. (Matt. 22:37.) Partial service to God is no service at all. “God will accept none of our service unless he has it all. Satan is willing to accept a part because he knows that by securing a part he really gets it all.” (McGarvey, Commentary on Matthew and Mark, p. 67.)
ARABIAN PROVERB
A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping
And
With the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.