Following is an absolute rule from our Creator; Matthew 6:24, "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." Translated, that means we cannot serve God and money, either we will hate money and love God, or we will hold to money and despise God.

        'Mammon' is defined as money and everything to do with it. The Greek word used here for 'despise' literally means to 'think against.' I wish they had translated it 'diminish' which allows a much broader latitude for thinking against than the word 'despise.' It is also significant Yeshua made this statement because He put money in a single category as a master with God. It appears He knew about the effects of money on people.

        Nowadays in the West we don't have kings and we don't understand worship and service. So, it doesn't appear to us that we worship money, but we do. In fact, it is the standard in the United States, one nation, under money, as God. People are judged here by the amount of money they have, the kind of car they drive, and the house they live in. Nearly all wealthy people nowadays judge themselves according to their money. Money means success. Recently a billionaire was quoted saying, "Money is not the measure of a person, it's just the scorecard." Unless reality has changed, a scorecard is a measure. He thinks he has excelled above others because he has lots of money. But scripture warns us against wanting to be rich, 1Timothy 6:9, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." I wonder if he is still interviewing for wives? Strange.

        Sadly, many poor people judge themselves for their lack of money. The reason is our culture. Virtually everyone and everything we see and hear speaks of money and everything is business. In the Old Days it could not have been so. The prophets speak as if everything relates to God. King David, clearly considered God's wishes before he made a decision. John the Baptist, Elijah and Yeshua were not wealthy, yet they are considered the greatest people who ever lived. In the Old Days people worshipped God and wore jewelry on their body to show their prosperity. Today, strangely enough, people serve money as God and wear religion as a garment. But, unless religion is based in clear, logical understanding, it is a useless form of social status and self approbation.

        For example, imagine giving a Rolex watch to an aborigine. He could not understand it or make use of it for what it was intended, but he would value it as a mysterious and possibly magical thing. Most likely, instead of continuing to struggle to understand and perhaps seek help from far away, he would wear it around his neck as jewelry in hopes of gaining status and political position in his little world.

        Same thing with religion nowadays. Instead of seeking to understand God's commandments and perchance discovering the need to change lifestyles or put away some sins, people continue to pursue wealth as a holy thing. They adorn themselves with one of the popular religions, that requires no understanding, study or sacrifice, other than some of their money.

        God, on the other hand, requires sacrifice, study and understanding. He understands the effect of money and power on people. Luke 18:24, "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" His disciples were amazed and asked who then can be saved and He said, 27,"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." He knew that many would fall in the future because of too much wealth and too little understanding. Wealth is easy living. It tends to disable people. Wealth and power create such a burden that people age sooner than they should. It brings false comfort and false security to all who possess it and soon it possesses them, like the great rings in Tolkien's trilogy. The same patterns almost always occur when wealth obtains in a person's life. They are soon consumed by terrible fears of losing their wealth and their health. It starts to work immediately in their minds that they cannot trust anyone and soon they are quite lonely. The Bible describes this as the deceitfulness of riches. Observe the so called eccentric behavior common to many of the extremely wealthy. They often become Silas Marners holding on to small things and struggling for pennies. It's common to see a rich person living in squalor with holes in shoes and eating less than needed. They actually become servants to the wealth like Tolkien's ringwraths.

        We cannot hold to both value systems. Either money is God or God is God. If we choose God, we must risk losing money, being socially unacceptable, and struggling to survive. Witness the prophets of Old, who were often outcast and ill-treated. John the Baptist was put in prison and killed because he told Herod it was not lawful for him to have his brother's wife. People trust in what they have. In other words, Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The wise trust in their wisdom, the rich in their riches and the faithful in their God. It all comes down to a matter of faith or confidence, as defined by that Hebrew term. The message of the whole Bible is one directing us to faith in The Creator. Beginning with Abraham, faith is described as the single attribute to identify the children of the eternal Kingdom. The Old Testament is filled with examples of people who had faith to achieve amazing and even superhuman victories, and it is the central theme of the New Testament.

        Sometimes called the hall of fame, the following discourse by Paul shows this link between the Old and New Testaments;

        Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Hebrews 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the kings commandment. Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter; Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

        Shakespere was right when he said 'all the world is a stage', in fact, it is an audition. It appears wealth serves as a filter in this world to sift out the useless from the jewels of the Kingdom. Not the only filter, it shares a place with sex, drugs, fame, vanity, and every other kind of obsession and excess. Dante said only the weak minded fall to the pursuit of women. Pursuits can reasonably be separated into two categories, pleasure and discipline. The Bible discourages pursuing pleasure and encourages discipline to a great extent. Romans 8:13, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Well, there we have it.

        At the End of Days, it appears we will be judged according to our deeds in this world. We have been given enough information, if we take the time to examine it, to understand how to live, treat others, regard things, and manage our time properly. If we do, we will be useful to the Creator in His new kingdom. If however, we show up on the Judgement Day as good money makers, something that will not exist in the kingdom, or filled with excessive appetites for pleasure like the rebels that were cast out, we may not have a role in the everlasting kingdom.

Ron Cash