“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.”
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus lays out a very powerful truth. At its core, this verse challenges us to examine our priorities, but its relevance today is even sharper when we consider the messages we often hear from modern “Christian leaders”. Many promote what’s known as the “social gospel” or “prosperity gospel,” suggesting that faith in Jesus guarantees worldly success, happiness, and financial prosperity. It’s tempting to believe that following God will always lead to a life of comfort and abundance, but that’s not the message Jesus taught.
When Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money,” He is warning us against letting material wealth become the driving force in our lives. Now, there’s nothing wrong with being financially secure or successful, but the problem arises when money or comfort becomes our master — when the pursuit of these things takes priority over our devotion to God.
Messages from certain leaders, like those preaching the prosperity gospel, often highlight faith as a pathway to personal wealth and happiness. But that focus on material blessings can mislead us. The Gospel is not about accumulating treasures on earth; it’s about investing in what lasts for eternity. Jesus reminds us just a few verses earlier to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). True discipleship isn’t about seeking wealth, but is about aligning our lives with God’s will, trusting Him even when life is hard, and serving Him above all else.
The danger of the “prosperity” message is that it subtly encourages us to view God as a means to an end — our personal success. But Jesus makes it clear that we cannot serve both God and money. Serving God requires full devotion. It means trusting Him to meet our needs, rather than chasing after material wealth, expecting God to bless us with prosperity in exchange for our faith.
Jesus never promised an easy, prosperous life for those who follow Him. In fact, He often spoke of self-denial, sacrifice, and suffering. The true riches of the Christian life are found in spiritual growth, in becoming more like Christ, and in experiencing the peace and joy that comes from knowing we are fully His.
This is where the choice comes in. Are we serving God for who He is, or for what we think He can give us? Are we more concerned with our comfort, wealth, and success, or with seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness? Jesus’ message in Matthew 6:24 is clear: you can’t have it both ways. Our devotion must be to God, not to money or worldly success.
Ultimately, the call of Matthew 6:24 is to shift our focus from the temporary to the eternal. God calls us to trust Him, not as a tool for our own prosperity, but as our loving Father who knows what we need and wants us to grow in faith. The wealth and success the world offers will fade, but the treasures of God’s kingdom are everlasting.
In the end, the question remains: Who — or what — do we serve? Let’s reject the idea that the Gospel is about material gain and instead focus on serving the One who offers eternal riches, love, and life beyond anything this world can offer
