Luke 16:13 “No servant 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.”
What Master do you serve? If we looked deep into our hearts
it might surprise us when we find the answer. The word (master) means - supreme
in authority, that is, (as noun) controller – (Strong’s) Something or Someone
that has so much authority in our life that it controls us in thought, word,
and in walk/actions. In some form we are all controlled by two masters, God and
the world. However, the thought of the scripture is “your service” to that
master. If we do not examine ourselves closely and do it with much prayer to God,
we may miss whom we are truly serving. As a Christian we have been redeemed of
God and by God, we are kept by God’s power, and only serve God by His grace and
mercy. God ordained our service to Him before the foundation of the world, and
that service is only possible in Jesus Christ. “For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Therefore, whatever God has
ordained will be, whatever work God has chosen for you will be your path in
life, without error. We, as Christians can do God’s chosen work and still fail
God in this life. God’s work in our life only makes us complete in that chosen
work, we can fail God in many other areas of our life. Not any of God’s earthly
servants were perfect, not one, not even Paul. We are all sinners, even in our
saved state we are all still sinners. It is easy for us to find ways to fail
God, to find ourselves serving the world and not God, we just all need to take
a close look into the mirror of God’s word to find it. Paul told the folks at
Corinth, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own
selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) While we (as Believers) are
not “reprobates” we do need to examine ourselves to see who is controlling all
areas of our being, it might surprise us if we look into the bible as a mirror
at what we see. In reading the scriptures in preparation of my sermons and I often
wonder how we as a church are responding to that scripture. Let’s use this
scripture as an example, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1
Thessalonians 5:22) The Lord just commanded us to “Abstain from all
appearance of evil” not just evil itself, but even if it appears evil. Evil
means – culpable – which is blameworthy, reproachable, or something that is
scripturally wrong. Here we will find much error in our life, if we examine in
the mirror of God’s word. Also let’s look at this verse, “Bless them that
curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:28)
Give it some thought, how do you do, how do you really do? Folks, our service
to God is “…rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 understanding
God’s word and serving our Master rightly. If we fail, we will find ourselves
serving the wrong Master. While it will not cause us (as Christians) to hate
God, it could cause us to hate some of what God said. Think about God’s word,
if you love it you will do it, if you do not do it, it is because you despise what
God has said. The only possible Way to perfectly serve God is to serve His
word, and without error. If we find error, then let us correct that error and
only serve one Master. Let us all take the time to examine ourselves and search
for error, none of us are perfect, but that is not an excuse.
