Mammon or working for the Lord

It has been a whirlwind since we returned from Oregon. School as the last quarter ended, report cards needed to be done and recorded and a new quarter with all its challenges begins. Community Service, it is time for our fall food drive. This meant spending a lot of time with the school kids and parents delivering bags to over 2150 houses, walking and sometimes running from door to door. Then comes riding through those same neighborhoods and collecting bags set out by those who generously donated. Over 250 bags, as of this writing, with literally thousands of items that have already been sorted (last night) and now ready to fill 75 food bags tonight that will be distributed this Saturday. Lots of work. On top of that over the last few days we began reassembling the recently bought playground equipment, a project all on to itself. It has been a busy two weeks. But you know what. It is a different kind of busy when you work for a Boss who gives you all the strength and assistance you need to get done as He and His Holy Spirit leads and guides. That was not always the truth for me.

I will say this much. I have always been a hard-working guy. But most of the time my hard work was all about what I could get out of it. Money, of course, that was always at the top of the list of why I told myself and others I worked so hard. But that was not really the truth. I also liked the praise and the pats on the back I would get. I prided myself that even in the depth of alcohol and drug addictions I was at work everyday and did my job, in my mind, better than the other guy. What I never understood is how much better I could have done if I had slept more, drank less, and not spent a fortune on booze and drugs. The fact was, I always looked at those as rewards. Part of being successful. “Man, I deserve this drink! I worked hard today.” Or. “Brother, pass that mirror over here! I deserve another line of that speed. I worked my butt off today!” When I look back at it now, I see how foolish that really was. And here is why.

Yes, I made it to work every day. And I did work hard. But when you burn the candle at both ends, so to speak, something has got to give. With me that was always my relationships, be it with a woman or with my family or even friends. They always took a back seat. Jesus said it best, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon” (Matthew 6:24)

In the narrow sense Jesus is talking about money, especially in more modern translations of the Bible. But I like the word used in the King James version and others: mammon. This old English word has a much deeper meaning. It is something like, wealth or self-gain regarded through and with an evil influence or as an object of worship of devotion. That is where I was at. I did not worship the money, no I did not work hard to sock away a fortune. I worshipped what self-indulgent stuff I could buy with the money. In every way it was the mammon Jesus spoke of. And as long as I worshipped it, the Savior was so right, I had no room for God or even other humans. It was all about me.

That is the difference, my friends, when you and I work for the Lord. I am not saying that everyone needs to run into your office or job wherever it might be and tell the boss, “I quit, I am off to serve God!” No, I truly believe that we can work and need to work to pay our way in this world. But while you are reading this, think of what that job you have means to you. Is it all encompassing or is it drawing you farther from God? Or is it an opportunity to serve God and man. That is where you need to be prayerfully making decisions.

I made the decision almost two years ago to walk away from the most lucrative job I ever had. Plenty of money and working from home. Most people thought I was crazy to walk away. And if I am truthful some days, I still doubt my decision. But I knew no matter what I did, that job would always demand something I could no longer give. It would demand dishonesty and loyalty to a worldly code I could no longer follow. With the support of RuthAnn and with prayerful consideration I walked away.

And it is weeks like these last couple that show me, the Holy Spirit led me in His path. Yes, there is much work to do and it is not praise-filled and most of it might even go unnoticed. That does not matter anymore. I know the Master I serve, and I know He will provide all we need because, “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2) Mammon is no longer in my heart or in my mind. And you know what, I cannot wait to get back out there today and see in what ways I can be of service to Him. It is a great day!

Blessings John,
11/7/18

Author: John

Christian blogger