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21. “You Cannot Serve Both God And Money!” – Jesus

Matthew 6:24
“No-one can serve two masters. 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.”

What is my first priority?

The corporate community would do well to listen to Jesus! Serving two masters is a label we could put on some of the actions emerging from the major corporate collapses witnessed in recent years. Many people, lured by the potential for personal benefit, have crossed over the conflict of interest line and so neglected their real master.

We can all relate to the tension that comes from opposing priorities. The demands of work (and our chosen financial obligations), family and leisure all seem to clash, creating real tension. If only there was a frame of reference that would help us sort out these conflicting demands.

Jesus says in effect ‘get your priorities sorted – you can’t have it both ways – either choose to serve me or pursue wealth and self interest’. He doesn’t ask us to take a vow of poverty but rather to ensure our number one priority in life is to follow Him. This decision leads us to that frame of reference from which we can establish priorities in other areas of our lives.

What is it that really drives us? What is it that we spend our time and energy on? What controls us? If it is wealth, possessions and investments then we have chosen the master of self interest and have rejected Jesus. If it is serving Jesus, then He has promised to help us as we deal with the other dimensions of our life, including our financial priorities.

Bruce Saward is an accountant, and is active in church leadership and community groups.