Sunday, April 18, 2021

We cannot serve both God and _____

"No one can serve two masters." -- Jesus

Some years ago in the workplace, for a time it was not clear who was my immediate supervisor. When someone comes and tells you to do something, do they have the right? If you're too busy to take two assignments, who has to wait? Who has first claim on the time? The answer matters.

Jesus originally made the point that no one can serve both God and money. Still, I imagine he would want us to apply it more broadly; money might be a common competitor but it's hardly the only one. No one can serve two masters effectively, God and _____ (anything else). So what are other things that claim our allegiance? No on can serve both ...

God and ego is another way to complete that thought.
God and control.
God and partisanship.
God and ... something not as important, really.

"Seek first the kingdom of God ... all these things will be added."

2 comments:

  1. and country, and family, and (whoops) our church, etc.

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  2. I like what one of the modern theologians (might have been Bonhoeffer) said: If we have the secondary things in Christ and through Christ then they are legitimate; if we have them instead of Christ then they are idols. (Paraphrased.)

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