The Servant and his Master

By: Matthew Travis

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” — Matthew 6:24

In my line of work, I get to ask people two questions that are often off-limits in normal conversation:
How old are you? and How much money do you have?

When I talk about money with people —how to save it, spend it, invest it, and use it to reach goals - I encounter many different ideas about how to use money. I also see how couples, shaped by different life experiences, approach money in unique ways. And I’ve learned that financial planning isn’t just about numbers—it’s about values.

At the heart of every financial decision is a deeper reality: money reveals what you love. (Matthew 6:21-24)

The World’s View vs. God’s View

The world says money is a tool to get what you want. And in a way, that’s true. But Scripture pushes you to see this tool more deeply.

Money doesn’t just help you get things—it shows you what you care about. Just as how you spend your time reflects your priorities, how you use money reveals what your heart values.

Saving may point to a desire for security.
Buying a home may express a value for family or hospitality.
Paying for private school may reflect a belief in a specific kind of education.
Even the vacations you take—or don’t—can speak volumes.

None of these choices are wrong on their own. But they are revealing.

God’s Gift: A Mirror in Your Wallet

This is one example of God’s kindness to you. He has given you money as a way to look inward at your decisions, practically.
Whenever you spend money, two things happen: your values are revealed and your heart follows (Matthew 6:21). By watching how you use money, you can begin to understand what you truly love, and then, after clearly seeing your loves, you can evaluate them to see if they align with what you say you love.

But here’s something deeper still:
Your loves—your core desires—were given to you by God.
You long for justice, beauty, love, rest, purpose… because He does. You were made in His image.

But there’s a problem. Sin twists those desires.
Instead of turning to God to satisfy your longings, you turn to the good things he’s created instead – justice, beauty, love, rest, purpose. You ask created things to do what only your Creator can.

That’s the essence of sin: turning from God to something else and saying, “This will satisfy me.”
But it never does. By design, nothing in creation can fill your God-shaped void in your soul.

Who Is Your Master?

This brings us back to Jesus’ words: You cannot serve both God and money.

Jesus isn’t offering a helpful suggestion. He’s making a statement of fact.
You can’t have two masters. One will rule. One will win.

Throughout Scripture, you see God calling His people to wholehearted devotion. David told Solomon to follow God with “a whole heart and a willing mind” (1 Chron. 28:9). Elijah challenged God’s people: How long will you limp between two opinions? (1 Kings 18:21).

Divided devotion is unfaithfulness to God.
In Hosea, God uses the image of an unfaithful wife to describe His people’s relationship with Him. It’s heartbreaking—but true. You were made for covenant faithfulness, not half-hearted spirituality.

So Jesus isn’t saying, “Try to love God more than money.”
He’s saying, “You can’t love them both.”
Just like you can’t be faithful to both your spouse and a mistress, you can’t be fully devoted to God while still chasing money as your source of identity, security, or fulfillment.

(We will cover what it means to faithfully steward money and it not be your master in later blogs, but for now, we will leave this as a future topic to be discussed at a later time)

You Will Serve Someone

Whether you realize it or not, everyone serves a master.
Paul says in Romans 6 that before Christ, you were slaves to sin, obeying your passions and desires. But Jesus invites you into a new kind of servanthood—one that brings freedom.

He invites you to follow a Master who gave everything to rescue you.
But this invitation demands your whole heart.

Jesus calls you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). It’s costly—but it’s also worth it. In fact, it’s the only way to find life that is truly life.

A Question Worth Asking

So here’s a practical question to reflect on today:
What does your money reveal about what you love and who your master is?

Take a moment to pray. Ask God to show you where your affections lie—what you love, what you trust, and where you turn when life gets hard.

Are your decisions guided by the voice of the Shepherd—or the pull of the market, the culture, or your fears?

Don’t Settle for Less

Sometimes, people think following Jesus means settling for less. But that’s a lie.
As Paul says in Philippians 3:8, “we count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.” When you follow Jesus, you declare with all you have that you won’t settle for less than Jesus.

C.S. Lewis said it well:

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us… like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.
We are far too easily pleased.”
— The Weight of Glory

Conclusion: A Better Master

Don’t be surprised that Jesus says you can’t serve two masters. It’s not a restriction—it’s an invitation.

When the gods of money and success leave you restless and anxious, you are reminded that you were made for something better. Someone better.

So renounce the world’s way. Submit to the One who loves you, calls you by name, and gave His life to set you free.

His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
And His joy is more than worth it.

Amen.

Scripture references from the ESV Bible.
C.S. Lewis quote from The Weight of Glory.