Are men justified to serve mammon ‘alongside of’ (para) God (Rom. 1:25)? Some say God’s commands and the things of the world are important, but the things of God should be more important.
Let me point out that, “The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil” (Pro. 16:4). Though it is true that “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psa. 115:16), it is just as true that “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1). He also reminds us “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4). Further, in the New Testament, he explains the apparent contradiction this way: “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s (Cor. 3:21-23).
Additionally, God says “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose [not purposes, plural] of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph. 1:11). And again he repeats the same fact: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” [Again, not purposes, plural]. Then he tells that purpose: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:28-29).
Once more, he tells us that he “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds…” (Heb. 1:2). And in the book of Colossians he informs us: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16).
Did God indeed create this world for men to enjoy, or did he create all things for his own purpose. Are we or are we not stewards of what God has given us (1 Cor. 4:1), and are all stewards not required to be faithful to only use the things he has provided for his purpose (1 Cor. 4:2)? According to Luke 16:1-2, does he not teach that literally ‘everything’ he gives us is to be used for his purpose? “And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward” (Luke 16:1-2).
Didn’t Jesus die “for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15)? If we follow in Christ’s steps (1 Pet. 3:21) will we also follow his steps in doing nothing of ourselves, but only what we see the Father do?
Why didn’t the Pharisee like Jesus’ sermon when he said: “No servant 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” (Luke 16:13)?
Were the Pharisees willing to make serving God more important that serving mammon (material things)? Because they were covetous, they were not willing to give up serving material things.
Similarly, shall we be holy, set apart fully to only do God’s will, so that we can agree with Jesus’ statement that, “…Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matt. 4:10).
If we listen to God’s judgment when he says: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own” (Luke 16:10-12)? Will we determine to choose the one master and reject the other (Luke 16:13)? Then it would not be a matter of serving God and mammon (material things), but serving God and not serving mammon.
Unfortunately, we often get confused between what it means to serve mammon and to serve our master as a good steward of what he has entrusted to us. It can be so alluring and so easy to love and serve earthly things—but just do it a little less than we serve Christ.
–Beth Johnson