Inevitably Two Masters

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Waiting on him

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never have fully understood money. The word says the love or lust of it is the root of all evil. Was this ‘root of all evil’ in the garden then, the temptation of vanity and the bondage of corruption? Also have never fully understood this spirit of mammon Mammon /ˈmæmən/ in the New Testament of the Bible is commonly thought to mean money, material wealth, or any entity that promises wealth, and is associated with the greedy pursuit of gain.

James 4:1-4 From where (did)come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? [2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. [4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

could it be that friendship with the spirit of mammon (the greedy pursuit of gain) is the root of vanity and corruption...that you might ‘devour’ in on your own lust. He said to seek first the Kingdom of God ...then told those devouring “you seek to kill Me.” You seek to kill Me. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain:

The deceitfulness of riches: Luke 12:19-21 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. [20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? [21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
^there is something beautiful in the above (imo), in ‘I know what I will do...I will tear down my barn and build a greater barn to bestow all my fruits’ but ‘Thou fool’ unless God builds ‘raises up’ the ‘greater’ garner and displays His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance...)...whose children do those things (treasure) (fruits) laid up for, belong to?

struggled for a while with who is ‘I will tear down my barn and build a greater one to bestow my fruits’ ... He told them ‘I tell you if you tear this body down then I will raise it up again’ Greater. And will display the fruit of the Spirit ...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance...

point is unless God builds the ‘greater’ then ‘For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?’ Luke 9:25

1 Corinthians 3:19-23 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. [20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. [21] Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; [22] Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; [23] And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Only if God is the builder to display His fruits...is there any treasure laid up and kept for the children.


2 Corinthians 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
As usual❤️ You see the deeper things of God.

Ziggles also seems to have a unique mind.
 
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DPMartin

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Mammon is the inferior stuff of life. .

so one who has to scratch and scrape to feed not only themselves but other such as children would disagree with you. and the king without the wealth could not give a beer or wine, and those who may offer you a smoke don't get that smoke without money. if you don't need money directly odds are you need the generosity of some one who does have money.

there are those who would lie to themselves making themselves (in there own judgement) the man on the higher ground because they don't have monetary means of their own. the world is what it is and the Lord God has allowed those who have control off necessities to do so. therefore the Lord God knows one has needs to sustain, clothe and shelter the flesh He created man in.

its not a moral issue at all like many play it, its simply the pursuit of what is valued. if you value the things of Heaven then one is wiser in the sight of God. but if one is obligated to support a family then the pursuit of the fulfillment of their needs and wishes are priority. The Lord God would have you to do that which you agreed to up-rightly. He wouldn't have you abandon that agreement unless they have abandoned you first.
 
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Taken

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Apparently Christ did say we will have to choose servanthood to one of two inevitable masters. You will hate God, and love money. Or, you will be devoted to God, and despise money.

You will have two masters, despising one (context); otherwise hating one. You can't be a (household) servant to the two.

Luke 16:13

Get it.

The key word of WHAT is Master.
The key word of HOW is Serve.

Any Service "TO God", is already Defined.
Good...is rewarded.
Bad.....is burned.

Any Service "TO Money", is aleady defined.
Never Good.
Always Burned.

Money "FOR" can be good or bad, in context.

Glory to God,
Taken
 

VictoryinJesus

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Ephesians 4:28
Money is a tool.
In the hands of a wise master builder it can be used skillfully.

frustrated. Get we need to eat food or we would go hungry. Get we need a roof over our head or we could possibly freeze or be sick all the time from no heat or food. Yet Curious how the translation becomes ‘money is a tool’ ‘working with his hands the thing which is good’ ...why did they translate it money is a tool which could possibly be a trap or snare set? I don’t understand. Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Jeremiah 23:30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

struggle so much there with the translation money is a tool’ considering 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

‘Pierced themselves through with many sorrows’ ‘it is vain to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrow.’ With ‘pierced themselves through with many sorrows’ Psalm 127:1-2 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. [2] It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(so he gives his beloved rest) [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.


^ Ephesians 4:28
Money is a tool.
In the hands of a wise master builder it can be used skillfully.

Is money the tool, or is ‘the grace of God’ the tool?
1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. [10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, (in the hands of a wise master builder)I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

John 6:26-27 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. [27] Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

‘It is vain to rise up early and to sit up late and eat the bread of sorrow’ which bread perishes.

2 Thessalonians 3:8-12 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: [9] Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. [10] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that... if any would not work, neither should he eat. (Then because I do not work a job or earn money...I should not eat bread??)11] For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. [12] Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

walking disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies...Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ ...that with silence they work, and eat their own bread.

yes frustrated because how then does it become money is the tool is the hands of a wise master builder instead of ‘the grace of God’. Money being the beginning of all things and the end of all things. The beginning of all things when you possess money, and the end of all things when you don't. When does it ever become enough, when is it ever satisfied ...the more money that comes, the more money is needed. Money seeming like a vapor, a quest to obtain that which quickly dissolves time and time again. Except for the man on shark tank (forgot his name) which considers his dollars his little children and talks of them as such, where he knows exactly where every one of ‘his sons’ goes out to and expects ‘his children’ to return to him with an increase of more little children.
 
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Ziggy

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The problem is, in my opinion, not the money or the work to sustain a family and have joy while doing so.
It's the one's controlling the money that keep the people poor.
The Pharaoh's of today that say, now you have to make more brick but we won't supply the straw.
And then when you can't pay your taxes, they take from you even the little you do have.
They are miserable creatures.
And so what should be happening is everyone is coming together and sharing and helping those who are in desperate need.
But they even made that a business with profits.
Look at Goodwill. You donate free stuff for people who don't have. They turn it and sell it for the same at retail.
And you can't afford it. They won't give it to you for free.
And they make people afraid of other people, and they make us hate eachother so we won't get strong against them.
We can't be self sufficient and help out our neighbors..
World is corrupt to the core.
We need a cleansing.. hopefully not another flood.. but fire is coming.. and the world will be judged.
Hugs
 

Bartholomew Jones

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so one who has to scratch and scrape to feed not only themselves but other such as children would disagree with you. and the king without the wealth could not give a beer or wine, and those who may offer you a smoke don't get that smoke without money. if you don't need money directly odds are you need the generosity of some one who does have money.

there are those who would lie to themselves making themselves (in there own judgement) the man on the higher ground because they don't have monetary means of their own. the world is what it is and the Lord God has allowed those who have control off necessities to do so. therefore the Lord God knows one has needs to sustain, clothe and shelter the flesh He created man in.

its not a moral issue at all like many play it, its simply the pursuit of what is valued. if you value the things of Heaven then one is wiser in the sight of God. but if one is obligated to support a family then the pursuit of the fulfillment of their needs and wishes are priority. The Lord God would have you to do that which you agreed to up-rightly. He wouldn't have you abandon that agreement unless they have abandoned you first.
The point is that resistance is better than acceptance. Of course we HAVE TO use money. But as the parable says, if you hold to God, that is, if he's your chief dependency, then you'll despise having to use money. It's not a need, as God is. It's a have to.
 

Bartholomew Jones

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Get it.

The key word of WHAT is Master.
The key word of HOW is Serve.

Any Service "TO God", is already Defined.
Good...is rewarded.
Bad.....is burned.

Any Service "TO Money", is aleady defined.
Never Good.
Always Burned.

Money "FOR" can be good or bad, in context.

Glory to God,
Taken
I'm not looking at it primarily from the perspective of money in your pocket or mine, but from the perspective of going to work 8 hours a day 5 days a week on average to serve a company that's producing what? Are they replenishing the earth or destroying it?
 

Gideons300

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Look everyone.... MONEY IS NOT EVIL...
Coveting money is....idolizing money.
.loving money.
Our Father wants us to be prosperous....
Solomon was blessed greatly and became very prosperous....however he let his wealth corrupt him.
Just out of curiosity, can you show me an example in the New Testament like Solomon from the Old?

Why do you think Jesus told us to love not the world, nor the things in the world, for all that is in the world, the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father.

Why do you think the Word tells us that "in the last days, there will be those supposing that gain is godliness. From such withdraw yourself. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out. So with food and clothing, therewith be content."

Why are revivals happening elsewhere, most often in impoverished areas of the world, where there are not tons of materialistic temptations to distract? The Word of Faith movement has made a mockery of these verses but in truth, I suspect multitudes of believers walk the same path, just without the boldness to make it part of their dogma.

Just something to think about.

blessings,

Gids
 

Bartholomew Jones

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Just out of curiosity, can you show me an example in the New Testament like Solomon from the Old?

Why do you think Jesus told us to love not the world, nor the things in the world, for all that is in the world, the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father.

Why do you think the Word tells us that "in the last days, there will be those supposing that gain is godliness. From such withdraw yourself. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out. So with food and clothing, therewith be content."

Why are revivals happening elsewhere, most often in impoverished areas of the world, where there are not tons of materialistic temptations to distract? The Word of Faith movement has made a mockery of these verses but in truth, I suspect multitudes of believers walk the same path, just without the boldness to make it part of their dogma.

Just something to think about.

blessings,

Gids
And godliness with contentment is great gain.
 

Bartholomew Jones

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The writers of the book of Hebrews tell us to "labor to enter into God's (own) rest." That tells me the abundance God has to those belonging to Christ goes back to the blessing God gave man in chapter 1 of Genesis. Our singular task has nothing at all to do with dominion over money, or over other men, human works, but dominion over God's creatures and the earth itself. The day before God's rest, it WAS very good. This tells you what the writers of Hebrews meant as to laboring.
 

Gideons300

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Yes true. And now I'm under conviction.
Was this not the mindset of the Laodecians? Contentment with where they were, with no desire to press deeper into the Lord? I do not see that as you, dear brother. The "we have need of nothing" thought process of the lukewarm church simply blinded them to the truth and they did not yet realize the magnitude of the birthright they had as His children.

Setting our affections on things above and not on things of the earth will often get replies that imply that these are so Heavenly minded they are no earthly good, lol, and yes, for some this indeed may be possible. But for the vast majority of believers, I fear the opposite is true.... that they are so earthly minded, they are no Heavenly good. I say that with great sadness.

Yet even as far away from Book of Acts as we are overall as His people, especially here in the West, I am also convinced that God is far from through with us. As a matter of fact, I suspect we will soon look back and realize He has only just begun with what He has in store for us before His return.

God did not plant His church at Pentecost in purity, unity, overflowing joy and the power of the Holy Spirit, only to have to come 2000 years later to rescue us from ourselves, overcome by the world, instead of overcoming it, divided instead of being of one mind, bubbling with the joy of the Lord on Sundays as long as the worship service is professionally done, but flat on our backs spiritually by Tuesday nights.

No, dear brother. He will be glorified in His own before He returns, and in this final harvest that we will have the privilege of being a part, we will finally have come to understand and believe who we really are..... new creatures, citizens of Heaven, victors over any and everything satan can accuse us about or tempt us with.

We are about to have blinders removed and truly understand "the hope of His calling and the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe." Glory!

Amazing days are ahead.... with tribulations, yes.... but it will all be worth it a thousand times over.

blessings,

Gideon
 

Waiting on him

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Was this not the mindset of the Laodecians? Contentment with where they were, with no desire to press deeper into the Lord? I do not see that as you, dear brother. The "we have need of nothing" thought process of the lukewarm church simply blinded them to the truth and they did not yet realize the magnitude of the birthright they had as His children.

Setting our affections on things above and not on things of the earth will often get replies that imply that these are so Heavenly minded they are no earthly good, lol, and yes, for some this indeed may be possible. But for the vast majority of believers, I fear the opposite is true.... that they are so earthly minded, they are no Heavenly good. I say that with great sadness.

Yet even as far away from Book of Acts as we are overall as His people, especially here in the West, I am also convinced that God is far from through with us. As a matter of fact, I suspect we will soon look back and realize He has only just begun with what He has in store for us before His return.

God did not plant His church at Pentecost in purity, unity, overflowing joy and the power of the Holy Spirit, only to have to come 2000 years later to rescue us from ourselves, overcome by the world, instead of overcoming it, divided instead of being of one mind, bubbling with the joy of the Lord on Sundays as long as the worship service is professionally done, but flat on our backs spiritually by Tuesday nights.

No, dear brother. He will be glorified in His own before He returns, and in this final harvest that we will have the privilege of being a part, we will finally have come to understand and believe who we really are..... new creatures, citizens of Heaven, victors over any and everything satan can accuse us about or tempt us with.

We are about to have blinders removed and truly understand "the hope of His calling and the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe." Glory!

Amazing days are ahead.... with tribulations, yes.... but it will all be worth it a thousand times over.

blessings,

Gideon
I really have a hard time understanding all the talk about the return of Jesus, has He left and forsaken you?

All I ever hear is that I want Jesus to return, scripture states that if we love Him He and His Father will come and make an abode with you. If this hasn’t happened, then I’d say believe, if it has happened then I’d ask, does He have to leave to return.

makes totaly no sense.Where does He go?
 
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Heart2Soul

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Just out of curiosity, can you show me an example in the New Testament like Solomon from the Old?

Why do you think Jesus told us to love not the world, nor the things in the world, for all that is in the world, the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father.

Why do you think the Word tells us that "in the last days, there will be those supposing that gain is godliness. From such withdraw yourself. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out. So with food and clothing, therewith be content."

Why are revivals happening elsewhere, most often in impoverished areas of the world, where there are not tons of materialistic temptations to distract? The Word of Faith movement has made a mockery of these verses but in truth, I suspect multitudes of believers walk the same path, just without the boldness to make it part of their dogma.

Just something to think about.

blessings,

Gids
I will not argue this...what I believe is between me and God. And I incorporate OT and NT in my studies.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
— Eph 3:20 (NKJV)
Cross References:
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
— 2Cor 9:8 (NKJV)
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
— Phil 4:19 (NKJV)
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”
— Mal 3:10 (NKJV)
2Cor 9 (NKJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
⁵ Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
⁹ As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
¹⁰ Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
¹² For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,