No, we are not speaking of serving a delectable dish peculiar to Southern cuisine. Mammon is from a Greek word which meant riches or wealth. It is used by the Lord Jesus as an object of worship in contrast to God. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “no man 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” (Mt. 6:24 kjv)
Jesus is teaching that men who follow him cannot give their allegiance to wealth and possessions. We cannot put “things” before God. Paul warned us not to “trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God…” (I Tim. 6:17).
James says that serving mammon makes us God’s enemy (Jas. 4:4). Friendship with wealth and worldly things is not worth alienating ourselves from God. In the teaching to follow (Mt. 6:25-34), Jesus goes on to say don’t fret over material things but rather focus on the spiritual and God will take care of our needs.
When we have to be content with humble means we sometimes see our need for God more clearly. Unfortunately, some who have little, fault God for their circumstances rather than thanking him for their blessings. But when he blesses us richly, we may easily forget who blessed us or we may have difficulty learning to be content with prosperity (cf. Phil. 4212). We may begin to trust in mammon. Not good! We must not put “things” before God. May God help us all to put God first in all matters.
– Paul Clements
Paul Clements, a member of the Eastern Meadows Church of Christ, is a retired choral director and retired minister who has also served as an elder in churches where he was located.
