Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[a]
Serving two masters is impossible. I can attest to that because I have done it for a long time. Early in my life I was married to my work and I found that at the end of my 32-year career at AT&T I was still married to my work. I spent way more time working and making as much money as I could to provide more stuff for my family. The cost? My relationship with my family. I would leave for work at 4 am before anyone in the house would ever want to get up. When I lived in California I would drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic for two hours or 40 miles to arrive at work by 6 am. I would work till 4 pm and get back in bumper-to-bumper traffic for the grueling two-hour commute home. I had time for supper and maybe spent a few minutes with the kids and my wife before I fell asleep watching tv.
My thinking was to work as many hours as I could, to make as much money as I could, so my family could have nice vacations and a comfortable lifestyle. I even set church aside on many Sundays to work during storms. I was driven by the master of money.
Recently I was talking with my new pastor Keith and the subject of money came up. He told me he used to worry about money all the time trying to keep food on the table for his family. He said about 10 years ago he stopped worrying and started relying on God to provide. What a concept! He told me their house is paid for and if the electricity gets shut off they will deal with it at that time.
I want that faith. Every month I think about the budget. Michelle does it but I worry about it. I told Keith I have never tried what he does but I should because we are 66 and still owe 27 more years on our home!
So often we spend all of our time running around pouring all of our time into maintaining money and possessions. The funnything is, God owns everything we have, including our family. Psalm 24:1 (NLT): “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” We may think we own it but we don’t.
My advice is this. Anything you have is God’s and if someone needs to borrow your lawn mower, tell them, “Absolutely, it belongs to God, so don’t break it!” LOL You will live a much happier life if you share what God has blessed you with, with someone in need. If you don’t your stuff owns you and you are enslaved to it.
The only thing in life that lasts a lifetime and longer is a personal relationship with Jesus! Every morning when I pray before getting on my bus I start with, “Good morning, Lord, thank you for allowing me one more day.”
All over the world, some people woke up this morning not knowing today was their final day on earth. On any given day 150,000 people die in the world, two-thirds of old age. This earth is a temporary place. Lay up your treasures in heaven. Love God and Love others and continue to build your personal,relationship with Jesus. That relationship is the most important relationship you will ever have.
Jim Everett
