In this next message in our Idol Factory sermon series Pastor Ben preaches on the Idol of Money. In Christian circles, this idol is sometimes referred to as “mammon.”
Mammon is derived from the word “aman” which means “confidence” or “trust.”
So when Jesus says “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 God both and mammon” (Mt. 6:24).
Jesus is pointing out that money can indeed become a spiritual god in our lives. In Luke 16, Jesus refers to mammon as “unrighteous wealth.” Jesus is pointing out that money has tremendous negative spiritual power connected to it. With all this in mind, how is a Christian to use money?
Consider the words of Richard Foster:
Money has the power out of all proportion to its purchasing power. Because the children of this world understand this, they can use money for noneconomic purposes. And use it they do! Money is used as a weapon to bully people and to keep them in line. Money is used to buy prestige and honor. Money is used to enlist the allegiance of others. Money is used to corrupt people.
Rather than run from money, we are to take it – evil bent and all – and use it for kingdom purposes. We are to be absolutely clear about the venomous nature of money. But rather than reject it, we are to conquer it and use it to advance the Kingdom of God.
You can view the livestreamed service HERE.
