The Idolatry of Serving Mammon

Whereas professed Christians may be open about their various addictions, sexual sins, dishonest behavior (lying, cheating, stealing, etc.) that they struggle with, virtually no one is signaling a struggle with an idolatrous relationship with money in some form. It must be worthy of note that Jesus singled out Mammon to say "no one can serve both God and Mammon" —that is idolatry. But it's like Jesus had no reason for such a concern with his followers having their hearts divided between God and Mammon. It comes down to one's deep affections and where one really puts his or her trust, in God or in possessions or so-called buying power in this world, for instance, either power one has or thirsts for. Rich and poor can have Mammon as their master (comp. Revelation 13:16), in which case they are either rich or want to be rich in treasures that are passing, that moth and rust do consume, and that thieves do break through and steal (Matthew 6:19). Such loved or desired 'abundance' is worth nothing as far as God is concerned (comp. Revelation 3:17). +Even when one is not driven by a rush to amass material wealth, if money stands as the actual "savior" in any situation and God himself is obscured in his quality of being in control of any situation, then that, too, is idolatry.+ So much hurts God's sensibility when our trust isn't "really" in Him, and our love is for the world rather than Him, according to his word.

You may not know where you really stand until God sends a fiery trial to test you (e.g. 1 Peter 4:12).

Be careful what your eyes are set on, and by extension, what occupies your heart and mind. Have the right mark on your forehead that symbolizes your mind. And be careful about what you do with your hands as a result of what's captivating your eyes/heart/mind. Have the right mark on your right hand that symbolizes your deeds/actions (the things you do).

What you speak is a good indicator of what's in you:
Luke 6:43-45
43 For there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.

2 Timothy 2:19
However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Matthew 5:29-30
29 And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.

Matthew 6:22-24
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. 24 No one 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 both God and Mammon.

John 8:12
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Luke 12:15
He [Jesus] said to them, “Beware. Keep yourselves from all covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

James 4:4
You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts [desires], but he who does the will of God remains forever.

Mark 8:34-38
34 He [Jesus] called the crowd to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. 36 For what does it profit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a person give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

3/01/2020

Image by Mohamed_Hassan from Pixabay.

Hebrews 13:5
Be free from the love of money, and content with such things as you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

See also:
Has Jesus Promised to Make His Followers Rich?

Gambling and Greed - YouTube playlist

Love Not The World - YouTube playlist 

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

Trust Check - YouTube video

Saved From Greed