INESCAPABLE CHOICE: Devotion for Friday July 22, 2016

INESCAPABLE CHOICE: Devotion for Friday July 22, 2016

Text: Matthew 6:24                  

Memory verse: Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Catechism in Book of Common Prayer 2007:478, says that being created in the image of God “Means that we are free to make choices; to love, to create, to reason and to live in harmony with creation and with God.” One of the inescapable choices we will make in life is that of whom to serve. In our text, Jesus says we can have only one master and serve him well. If we have two masters at the same time, our devotion and commitment will be divided.

Our world of today is a materialistic society where many people serve money and can do anything to get it including looting public funds, backstabbing people to gain favour and approval, kidnapping, and killing. In our present society, people’s desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. No wonder Jesus made it clear that where our treasures are there will our hearts be.  

Here, Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when He explained that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or used up, and never wear out. We shouldn’t be fascinated with our possessions, lest they possess us and we begin to give less attention to the things of God. This means we may have to do some cutting back if our possessions are becoming too important to us. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen what is eternal and lasting. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap, because “the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Food for Thought: Can you honestly say that God, and not money, is your master?

Prayer: God, I have chosen you as my Lord and Saviour. Help me never to fall into materialistic trap that will take my heart away from you in Jesus name. Grant me the grace to control my desire and the blessings you have bestowed upon me and not my blessings controlling me.