See why you can’t serve both God and money
No one can deny that money has power. It pays the bills, puts food on the table, and lets us dream a little bigger. But if we’re not careful, money can also quietly slip into the driver’s seat of our hearts.
Jesus knew this and in His famous Sermon on the Mount, He hit us right between the eyes with the truth: you can’t serve two masters.
This wasn’t just an idea for the rich or greedy; in first-century Israel, most folks were hardworking and often barely scraping by. Jesus spoke to crowds hungry for bread, hope, and justice yet He warned them (and us) that the true battle often happens inside, in our motivations and loyalties.
The Verse
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
A Breakdown of the Verse
“No one can serve two masters.”
Think about an employee trying to please two bosses with very different agendas. It’s exhausting and eventually, one boss will win out. Jesus uses the word “serve” here, meaning more than work, it’s about who (or what) claims our deepest loyalty, affection, and attention.
“Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
It’s a heart issue. Whatever comes first in your affections becomes your master. Gradually, our hearts tilt in the direction of our focus and energy. If money is our focus, we’ll orbit our lives around it. If God is our focus, we’ll use money as a tool, not a treasure.
“You cannot serve both God and money.”
Jesus is clear: the human heart is too stubborn (and too precious) to be shared this way. If money calls the shots, God gets the leftovers, or gets pushed out entirely. If God is our Lord, money becomes a resource to steward, not a rival to obey.
For Jesus’ audience (poor, rich, and everyone in between), this was liberating and also deeply challenging. Jesus isn’t against money itself; He’s warning against the subtle, sneaky way it tries to take God’s place.
Faith in Action
- Check your “financial allegiance.” What gets your best focus, energy, and trust – God, or the pursuit of more? Be honest!
- Do a “time and thought” audit. How much of your day is spent worrying, planning, or dreaming about money compared to time spent with God?
- Set spiritual priorities in practical ways: Pray before purchases. Involve God in your budgeting. Give intentionally, even when it pinches.
- Let money be a tool, not a trophy. Use it to serve God, bless others, and meet genuine needs, but don’t let it define your sense of identity or security.
- Celebrate stories of God’s faithfulness, not financial “wins.” Remind yourself (and your family) that the real treasures are things money can’t buy: peace, love, purpose, and joy.
- Ask God to gently reveal any area where money’s grip may have grown tighter than you realized.
Remember, Jesus doesn’t want to deprive us, He wants to set us free! When God takes the throne in our hearts, money loses its power to make us anxious, greedy, or afraid.
Reflection Questions
- Who (or what) do you trust most to meet your needs – God, or your income/resources?
- How do you know when money is starting to take first place in your heart?
- Have you ever found yourself rationalizing decisions based only on what makes financial sense, without considering what honors God?
- In what ways can you use money as a tool to serve God rather than a master to obey?
- Where do you feel the biggest tension between trusting God and trusting money?
- How might surrendering control over your finances lead to more freedom and less anxiety?
- What’s one practical step you can take this week to put God first in a money-related decision?
Affirmation
Today, I choose God as my master, not money. I trust Him with my needs and invite Him to lead every financial decision, big or small.
Closing Prayer
Jesus,
You know my heart better than I do. I confess that money sometimes calls the shots or steals my peace. Rescue me from divided loyalties, and be the leader of my life, including my finances. Help me use every dollar for good and let money serve Your purpose, never the other way around. Set me free to trust and love You first and most.
Amen.
