Two Masters? I Don’t Think So!

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

No one can serve two masters. That is a fact. A guy told me one time, “I serve two masters, I work at two jobs.” Serving two masters and working two jobs are not the same. The misunderstanding is not knowing the Greek word, which is translated serve. It has nothing to do with your 9-5 employment. Rather, it has everything to do with being a slave. A slave doesn’t understand 9-5. A slave only knows 24/7 — constant devotion to his master.

When writing to the Romans, Paul told the Christ followers that they were once “slaves to sin,” but when they wholeheartedly embraced the Gospel, they were freed from their slavery to sin to “become slaves of righteousness” [see 6:16-18].

Paul got that from the words of Jesus, “No one can serve two masters,” He said [Matthew 6:24]. Exclusive devotion, single-minded, whole-hearted are words that describe a true servant.

When speaking of the spiritual, trying to serve two masters will tear you apart. One says, “Walk by faith,” the other says, “Walk by sight.” One admonishes, “Be humble,” the other, “Be proud.” One commands our affections to be set on “things above,” the other on “things of the earth.” One sees “the eternal,” the other sees “the temporal.” One says, “Be anxious for nothing,” the other says, “Be anxious about everything.” These masters are diametrically opposed to each other. That’s why you can’t obey both orders — you can’t serve two masters.

The hymn writer had it right:

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise—

Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart—

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

(Be Thou My Vision, Words, Mary Byrne, 1905; Music, Eleanor Hull, 1912)

The strong Christ follower serves God, alone!

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24