Who Is Your Master?
“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.” Matthew 6:24
Who is your master? Or what is your master? The word “serve” comes from the Greek word δουλεύω, or douleúō, meaning to be a slave to or in bondage to, per Strong’s concordance. Master is from the Greek word κύριος, or kurios, whose definition includes lord, master, owner, per Thayer’s lexicon. This word is also translated into Lord in the Bible. Is Christ our Lord? Is He our master? Is He our owner? Are we His servant? His slave? Or is it to someone else, or to something else, we have given ourselves? Have we made something, or someone else, our lord?
Mammon per Merriam-Webster’s dictionary online is, “material wealth or possessions especially as having a debasing influence.” The Bible says we will love God and hate mammon (material wealth and possessions), or the other way around. There is no middle of the road when it comes to masters, is there? Which one is our master? Our owner? Lord? How quickly we may say the Lord is our master; we His servant. Are we? Is it God we love above all and everyone? Is it Him we serve? Do our lives not reflect what’s in our hearts? He knows all!
What does it mean to hold to the one and despise the other? Ah! Strong’s says hold comes from the Greek word ἀντέχομαι, or antéchomai, whose definition includes adhere to, hold fast, hold to, and support. Thayer’s uses the words “cleave to.” I like to think of cleaving as holding on for dear life. Fastening ourselves to. Clinging passionately and desperately to. Vigorously, desperately, committedly, relentlessly, tenaciously hanging onto something or someone. Are we clutching God? Or this world?
We don’t casually express a little interest in God, a little interest in earthly riches, treasures, wealth, stuff. We love and hang on fiercely and desperately and cling to one or the other. We are in bondage to and serve one or the other. Bondage to God is beautiful for He is Lord of all, and His splendor, glory, majesty, His brilliance are indescribably awesome, bringing awe to all who bow down before Him. His light is forever, His love never ending. His mercy unfathomable. Oh how glorious, how glorious He is! He created the heavens, earth, sky, moon, stars, sea, trees, animals, and love. He is love! Love forever! Do we love and serve the One who will reign forever? Do we cleave to Him for dear life? Or are we slaves to the fleeting pleasures of this temporal life? God knows to whom or what we cling. He knows whom or what we serve. We have a choice.
Whom do you love and serve?