# 48 2015 Devotion Matt. 6:24 The purpose of our devotionals is to grow closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and to apply His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Matthew 6: 24
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6 is part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount (Ch.5-7). In this chapter Jesus speaks about what he dislikes and what he criticizes the hypocrites for. When you give, when you pray and when you fast to receive praise from men you have your reward in full. But if you give, pray and fast in secret, God who sees in secret will reward you. Do we seek the praise of men? We may not realize we seek to please men but if you look deep you will agree that we do seek the praise of men sometimes. We do things and not do things in order to receive that earthly praise.
In this chapter Jesus speaks strongly about praying with endless words. He teaches us how to pray with an economy of words and follows the Lord’s prayer with a command and admonition. Jesus says: “ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”(v.14-15). Talk about treasure in heaven and on earth.
That is what our verse this week is indirectly talking about, laying up treasure in heaven. It is by service we lay up treasure with God, serving Him only. By pretending to serve Jesus we serve two masters and we lay up treasure on earth: by not giving what we should to the poor and by seeking and accepting the praise of men and by holding onto sweet revenge by withholding forgiveness. It quickly becomes obvious that it is not Jesus we are serving. True service to Jesus comes from the heart and is the light of the world. Shine on, light up the dark places!!
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