Cannot Serve God and Wealth

Jesus often taught His disciples through the questions that He asked. In Matthew 16:26 He asked, “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Jesus understood the humans struggle between serving our wants and desires versus serving God and His Kingdom. In Matthew 6:24 He said we must make a choice. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

The Bible teaches that the desire for wealth is our modern-day form of idolatry. Paul pleased with Christians to “consider the members of your earthly body as dead to …covetousness, which amounts to idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). This is why we cannot serve God and wealth – One is the true God, the other is a false idol.

Jesus also warned that “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16). Our attitude should be “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:8-9).

Paul further explains, “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction For the love of money [covetousness] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Christians should longing to love and serve the true God. “You shall love Yehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” Deuteronomy 6:5).

God knows and will provide for our needs. “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthe 6:31-33).

Paul reminds Christians “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). The primary way God meets our needs is by the ability He has given us to work. “You shall remember Yehovah your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Jesus instructed us “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27). God may choose to bless us financially but that should not be our motivation to faith or service. When He does bless us He brings wealth but “He adds no sorrow to it” (Proverbs 10:22).