Matthew
Introduction: Jesus has already warned that treasures laid
up on earth are only temporary, verse 19.
Only treasures laid up in heaven are lasting. Once again He warns about the danger of
seeking earthly treasures.
I. The identity of the two masters.
A. One Master is
the Lord God of Heaven.
1. He
has the right to be the Master.
2. He
created all; He owns all.
B. One is mammon.
1.
Mammon was the name of a heathen god, an idol.
2. He
was the god of earthly riches.
C. Jesus was not
implying that His disciples might actually bow down to the idol, but He was
saying
that if they make
money their god, the result is the same.
D. Thus the choice
is between God and earthly riches.
II. The illustration which Jesus
used.
A. Men had been
known to jointly own a slave.
1. The
motive was obvious; they could save money.
2. The
intent was that the slave would work equally for each master.
B. Such joint
ownership never worked out.
1. For
one thing sometimes one of the owners would sometimes take advantage of the
other.
(Jesus never mentioned this).
2. For
another the slave would sometimes love one master and hate the other.
3. If not, he would at least favor one above the other.
III. The point Jesus was making.
A. A man cannot
serve God and mammon. (Riches) Every disciple needs to know this.
1. If
he tries, he will neglect God in order to serve mammon (riches).
2. If he serves riches he has to neglect God to
do it.
B. If he serves
riches, he becomes a slave to riches.
1.
That was not the intent; he sought riches that they might serve him.
2. But
the way it works out is that riches becomes the master
and he is its slave.
3.
Money talks, but not for you—to you.
(It gives the orders and you obey).
4. It also
promises to do great things for you, but you must first bow down and become its
slave.
IV. The choice that must be
made.
A. One must make
the choice between serving God and riches.
1. It
is not that you “should not” serve God and riches.
2. It is
just that you “cannot.”
B. If you choose
to serve God, then He will be the Master. (Not you; not mammon).
C. If you choose
to serve riches, than your riches will interfere and not let you serve God.
(Nor will God accept your token service).
V. A clarification.
A. Jesus is not
trying to turn His disciples into paupers.
1. He
is not suggesting that they not work.
2. Nor
is He suggesting that they give everything away.
3. Nor
does He forbid that he have money.
4.
What He is doing is insisting on an undivided loyalty.
B. Another point
of clarification: If you do give Him
your undivided loyalty, you do not need to worry
about your needs.
1. It
is the servant’s task to serve the Master.
2. It
is the Master’s task to provide for His servant.
Conclusion:
1. I appeal to
every child of God to give your undivided service to God. This world is not our home. This world’s treasures are but
temporary. Invest your time, your
talents, your energies in heavenly wealth. Serve the Lord God of heaven with all you
heart, with all you mind, with all your being, with all your soul.
2. I appeal to
every lost soul to come by faith to the cross.
Come not thinking what you might can do for God, but what He can do for
you. He can keep you out of hell and
take you to heaven.
Preached at