Gospel of Matthew, Day 11 of 58
Reading
Matthew 6:19-34
https://bible.oremus.org/?ql=509122383
Scripture
24 ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Observation
The word used for wealth here is Mammon in the original Greek and in the King James Version (KJV) . Mammon is one of the few words with an Aramaic origin in the New Testament. Aramaic (a Semitic language related to Hebrew and Arabic) is believed by nearly all scholars to be the spoken vernacular of Jesus and the Disciples. The word connotes a demonic personification of wealth that can consume one’s thoughts and being.
If some part of this verse is in Jesus’ true, spoken language it is a teaching that demands my attention.
What follows this saying is Jesus’ famous exhortation to rely on God for provision by “considering the lilies”.
Application
Do my possessions possess me? A great antidote for greed and avarice is generosity. Giving puts my money to work for God’s Kingdom, instead of fleeting pursuits. It also redirects my ambitions toward heavenly pursuits and priorities.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your teaching challenges me. You hit me in the heart when you talk about the idolatry I dabble in with my possessions. I am grateful for your call to store up my treasures in heaven, to refocus my life on eternal pursuits that have lasting significance. In your Holy Name I pray. Amen.