THE CONSEQUENCES OF SERVING WEALTH

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves at a crossroads, faced with a pivotal decision: Who or what will we serve? Will we choose to serve God, or will we allow ourselves to become servants of wealth and possessions? This choice, seemingly simple on the surface, carries profound implications for our spiritual lives, our relationships, and our eternal destiny.

Luke 16:13 encapsulates this dilemma perfectly: "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." These words serve as a stark reminder that we must choose our master wisely, for the consequences of our choice will ripple through every aspect of our lives.

When we allow wealth to become our master, three significant consequences often follow:

Those who serve wealth often find their motivations becoming increasingly self-centered. Like the Pharisees described in Luke 16:14-15, they may become "lovers of money" who seek to justify themselves before others. However, as Jesus pointedly reminds us, "God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."

This truth should give us pause. How often do we make decisions based on how they will be perceived by others, rather than seeking to please God? The desire for wealth can corrupt our intentions, leading us to prioritize our own gain over the well-being of others or the furtherance of God's kingdom.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 offers a sobering assessment of the human heart: "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds." Our hearts, left to their own devices, are prone to deception. Only through surrendering to God and allowing Him to transform us can we hope to overcome our selfish inclinations.

When wealth becomes our primary focus, we risk distorting or even rejecting the true gospel message. The Pharisees of Jesus' time had manipulated God's laws to suit their own purposes, lowering the standards to make themselves appear righteous while neglecting the true spirit of God's commands.

We see this illustrated in Jesus' reference to divorce laws in Luke 16:18. The Pharisees had taken God's protective measures and twisted them to justify their own selfish desires, completely missing the heart of God's intentions for marriage and relationships.

This tendency to reshape the gospel to fit our preferences is a dangerous one. As Paul warns the Galatians, "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3). We must be vigilant against the temptation to water down the gospel or add our own requirements to it, lest we find ourselves rejecting the very truth that can save us.

Perhaps one of the most tragic consequences of serving wealth is the hardening of our hearts towards others. When our primary concern is accumulating more for ourselves, we leave little room for extending grace and compassion to those around us.

The Pharisees' interpretation of divorce laws serves as a stark example of this lack of grace. By allowing men to divorce their wives for trivial reasons such as burning toast or disagreeing with a mother-in-law, they demonstrated a callous disregard for the well-being of women and the sanctity of marriage. Their focus on personal gain and justification before men left no room for the grace and love that should characterize God's people.

This attitude stands in sharp contrast to the grace-filled life we are called to live as followers of Christ. Ephesians 4:32 exhorts us, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." When we truly understand the immeasurable grace God has shown us, how can we not extend that same grace to others?

As we reflect on these consequences of serving wealth, we are invited to examine our own hearts and motivations. Are we allowing the light of Christ to expose areas of our lives that need transformation, or are we, like those described in John 3:19-20, preferring the darkness because our deeds are evil?

The good news is that God offers us a way out of this cycle of self-serving and spiritual blindness. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, He promises, "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

This transformation is not something we can accomplish on our own. It requires surrendering our lives to God, allowing Him to change us from the inside out. Like adding sugar to bitter tea, inviting Christ into our lives can sweeten our existence, changing not just how we appear on the outside, but who we truly are at our core.

The invitation stands: Will we choose to serve God or wealth? Will we allow the light of Christ to expose our shortcomings and transform our hearts, or will we continue to hide in the darkness of self-justification and selfish gain?

As we navigate this decision, let us remember the words of Mark 1:15, which call us to "repent and believe in the gospel." This simple yet profound instruction invites us to turn away from our former way of life, to believe in Christ as the Son of God, and to trust in His power to save and transform us.

May we choose wisely, understanding that our decision will shape not only our lives but also our eternal destiny. Let us serve the Master who offers true riches – not in earthly possessions, but in the imperishable treasure of a life lived in harmony with God's will and filled with His grace.