No One Can Serve Two Masters
“He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”
We have all heard this quote many times before. What comes to mind? Money and God? That is one way to understand the passage. I do think there are many ways to use your imagination to better understand this quote. Direct your attention back to the phrase ‘be devoted to one and despise the other.”
Generally, we are all devoted to our families. We work hard to provide food, clothing, and shelter. And hopefully have enough left over for a few extra things. But there are times when our families becoming demanding with their perceived needs. For example, let us make a list of things for a typical family just for the summer. Probably first would be a vacation. This must be worked out between little league baseball, Boy Scout camp, music camp, AquaFest, and decided either before the Fourth or after depending on the Great Family Get Together and Picnic with all the relatives, and toss in a wedding or two, and a baptism and the County Fair. Well, you get the idea.
Ask again, who are you serving? You may be devoted to your family but with all these things going on sometimes there is a little resentment, maybe some burnout running here and there, stressed nerves, and frustration when you cannot find socks that match or a lost lunchbox for the fifth time in two weeks. Who are you serving?
There is nothing wrong with any of these activities if we keep them in perspective. But when they take over your life, they also become your master. God offers times of peace and reflection. Thinking through what is most important. Letting God direct you takes the madness out of decision making. Setting and keeping boundaries is a good way to grow in virtue. Look at what you have scheduled today. Is it a schedule you made or is the day filled with schedules made by other people? Then ask yourself, who do you serve?
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen