OCT 8

Luke 16:13
Memorise Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters…”

Back in my secondary school days, my social studies teacher often repeated this phrase to us: “If you sit on the fence, you will get impaled”. Of course, she was referring to the necessity of taking a stand on issues, and how it was not good at all to remain neutral.

When it comes to whom we serve, this principle applies too – there is no such thing as remaining neutral. And in the spiritual realm, as today’s reading teaches us, there is a choice between two masters: God or mammon. Mammon refers to treasure or riches, which by extension can also be applied to refer to all that is worldly and sinful. Either we hate God and love mammon, or else we hold to God and despise mammon. In fact, those who are servants of mammon are otherwise known as the servants of Satan, for Satan is known as the “prince of this world” (John 12:31). Therefore, if a person does not serve God, there is no such thing as “remaining neutral” – he would then be serving the devil.

What a terrifying thought indeed! To have Satan as your master, to do the things that please him, to be motivated by his glory, is surely a most miserable state to be living in. Yet there are so many people who willingly choose to rebel against God and to serve mammon and the god of this world instead.

Dear teen, what about you? Whom do you serve? What is it that takes up most of your time, and consumes your heart? Do you have an overwhelming desire to seek after God and to live in a manner that pleases Him? Or do you instead find yourself seeking after the things of the world? If that is the case, then you have turned away from serving God, and are serving yourself and the lusts of the world.

To serve God, or to serve mammon – which will you choose?

Thought: If I don’t serve God, I am a servant of Satan!
Prayer: Lord, I want to serve Thee and not the devil.