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Issue link: http://magazine.kcm.org/i/1321384
The employer commended his steward for understanding that he could use his position to prepare for his future. Verse 9 reveals the takeaway: “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home” ("New Living Translation"). In other words, on earth you’re to use your money to be a blessing to others and to interrupt their misfortunes. If you do, when you get to heaven, there will be people coming to you, grateful for what you did. Money: No Big Deal But the lesson didn’t end there. In verse 10, Jesus added, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (emphasis mine). Did you catch that? Jesus called money “that which is least.” When you use your faith in the area of money, you are using your faith in the smallest area of the kingdom of God. Money is not a big deal. You might say, “You could have fooled me!” …but that’s the point, isn’t it? You’re taking something that’s small to the Lord and you’re making it bigger than what it is. This is important because Jesus says if you can’t be trusted with the least—with money—then you won’t be “faithful also in much.” Where Jesus headed next brings everything together. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 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” (verses 11-13). Either you’re going to serve God or you’re going to serve mammon. There’s no middle ground. But why didn’t Jesus say, “You can’t serve God and money?” Because He’s talking about more than money—so much more. He’s talking about the demonic spirit of mammon that has been in hiding under the radar for centuries. It’s a spirit that hides behind the norms and values of society. Mammon is an Aramaic word that means “riches.” It was the name of the Syrian god of riches and money. At the very heart of the word is an attitude that says, “You don’t need God. Don’t trust God. Be self-sufficient.” Mammon is responsible for divorce and the spirit of division. It was responsible for slavery in this country. It’s responsible for inequality and racism. Mammon wants to rule your life. It will promise you security, significance, identity, independence, power and freedom—but in the end, it can’t deliver. Only God can provide those things. The Influence of Mammon The spirit of mammon is in direct contrast to the Spirit of God. God says sow and reap. Mammon says buy and keep. God says give and receive. Mammon says cheat and steal. God is generous. Mammon is selfish. While money by itself is neither good nor bad, what matters is what spirit is influencing the use of the money—the spirit of mammon or the Spirit of God. Like the steward in Jesus’ parable, it’s time to give yourself a spiritual audit. Ask yourself: What’s influencing the use of my money? Is it God, or is it the spirit of mammon? If you think that money can solve your problems instead of God, then the spirit of mammon is influencing you. I’ve seen preachers hold revival meetings not because God told them to have them, but because they needed the money. Mammon drove their decisions. I’ve known people who were willing to exploit their friends if the price was right. If you seek out friendships only because you believe they’ll lead to better business opportunities or affluent networking, that’s a motive straight from the spirit of mammon. I’ve even known people who married solely for the security provided by money. Like Tina Turner, they ask, “What’s love got to do with it?” But if Jane only marries Harry because he brings home the bacon, when the mammon leaves her, she’s going to find herself in a ditch. That’s what happened to the prodigal son. He was driven by the spirit of mammon and ended up working in pig slop. 10 : BVOV