Recently after 54 years of excellent service, the dental bridge in my upper mouth split in half. Having to part with that bridge caused me to reminisce about how I lost my three front teeth when I was twelve years old. One day at school without knowing it a classmate and I decided at recess to test the law of physics that says two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
As we were walking back to our classroom after playing softball, the boy carrying the softball threw it as high in the air as possible like a popup. I ran to the ball, eyes fully lifted toward the sky, I didn’t realize that my classmate Johnny was camped under the ball. At full speed I ran into Johnny…my mouth plowing into his forehead. He was left with three teeth marks in his forehead, a bad headache, and an early dismissal to go home. I was left with three dangling teeth. I wore a temporary bridge for six years until I got the permanent bridge.
Just like there are laws of physical physics, there are also laws of spiritual physics. Jesus verbalized one of those laws in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (NASB).” Just like my teeth and Johnny’s forehead couldn’t occupy the same space at the same time, serving God and serving mammon cannot occupy a person’s heart at the same time. Many have tried to prove Jesus wrong, only to prove He’s right. The human heart has room for only one master– God or someone/something else. Jesus summarizes “someone/something else” with one word…mammon. One or the other. It’s God or mammon.
What is mammon? It means “that in which a man trusts.” It also can mean “riches.” In its narrowest meaning it speaks of money and possessions. In its broadest meaning it refers to anyone or anything, other than God, that a person ultimately trusts to provide for his needs and protect him from harm. Jesus was not condemning money or possessions. He was warning his listeners and us of the negative impact that serving any master other than God brings with it.
In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus reveals why we shouldn’t choose mammon as our master: (1) Riches and possessions deteriorate, (2 riches can be stolen, and (3) if we put our treasures in money and possessions, our heart cannot help but follow. Once our heart is on board, the possibility of such things as accumulation of wealth for accumulation’s sake, hoarding, and selfishness. In Matthew 9:25-34 Jesus tells us why we should choose God as master. If we serve God and our trust is in Him to supply all our needs for protection and provision of need and not to mammon, then worry and anxiousness will have no room in our hearts and minds. He then adds a second reason in vs. 34, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” What things? Food, clothing, shelter and other necessities in life.
How can you know when mammon is already, or is attempting to be master of your heart?
- When you find sole meaning and purpose for your life in your mammon.
- When chasing and accumulating mammon becomes your constant concern and effort.
- When mammon is both the source of your net-worth, and also your self-worth.
- When worry and anxiety sabotage the security you have from trusting in God’s person, provision, and protection.
- When time chasing after the enjoyment of pleasures and possessions supplants the time you once used for worship, Bible Study, and fellowship with fellow believers.
- When your contentment is derived from the possession of things and money, and your sense of discontentment is derived from the lack or absence of them.
- When your only consideration for how you manage your possessions and spend your money is self-will and not God’s will.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many a pang.” (1 Timothy 6:10 NASB) That root can grow deepest in the life of a person who makes mammon his master in place of God.
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