Two Masters

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? 

No servant 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.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:9-15)

“One nation under God…” is part of our Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America that all politicians recite (and us), be they Democrats or Republicans, indicating God should be their master when voting on our and God’s behalf, at least that’s how it should be with a focus on virtue and morality.

Unfortunately, mammon dictates most politicians’ choices, so it seems.  Mammon is the master made clear by the funds that flow into politicians’ coffers – funds all with strings attached.  One wonders if those strings lead to God being “served” the door and sent packing.  Such a shame for God knows their hearts and their abominable behavior.  

God and all of us want politicians to be trustworthy in small and great matters.  Dishonest wealth is their temptation to which most eventually succumb and fall unless they truly believe their pledge and are loyal to whom they should be allegiant.  

Deacon David Pierce