Christ said clearly, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). What was Jesus Christ talking about?

When I was around 26 or 27 years old and had no master, I did whatever I wanted—good or bad. The Beatles had become a powerful influence in the world; and they were, in turn, influenced by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. For $25, any person could be initiated into their following. If you really liked it, you, too, could be trained to become an initiator. You could “turn on” others without drugs.

Much time has passed for me, and much water has passed under that particular bridge. Now I look back with experience, insight and concern for others. I am perfectly aware that serving mammon can result in monetary success. I know that some succeed honestly, some don’t succeed at all and others cheat their way to riches. In many publications we can read about the few who succeed honestly, share that success with others and then call this God’s Blessing. This looks like a good thing. But does achieving monetary success, even achieving it God’s Way—the Way of Give—equate to real success?

Now I look back with experience, insight and concern for others. I am perfectly aware that serving mammon can result in monetary success.

I believe that Jesus Christ was confronting this concept when He stated, “No one can serve two masters.” We need to ponder His statement. Real success (to me) is knowing the true God and having the faith and knowledge that They—both the Father and the Son—are Master. This also includes knowing that we can also be the Father’s children, (that is, Jesus’ brothers and sisters). We have a family relationship that transcends all other relationships—and They will not leave us hanging! That is why I will not serve any other master.

My wife read this and said to me that it seemed to her that I was saying that people shouldn’t work—which I am not. The apostle Paul said that if you’re capable of working and don’t (that is, don’t earn money), then you should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). I agree with him. That said, earning money is different from “serving mammon,” as serving implies that it is the master.

According to Webster’s College Edition Dictionary, mammon is the false god of riches and avarice. If you are consumed by a desire to obtain wealth—even if you say that you simply want to help others with your wealth—you are serving mammon and fooling yourself.

How is it that people do not heed this warning? Look to the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15). Jesus took some time to thoroughly explain the various shades of response possible.

To summarize the parable, not everyone hears the message. Even those who are privileged to hear don’t all hear the same meaning. Some respond not at all, others only for a while, and some respond powerfully and are steadfast to the end.

As the aging process occurs, I remember several youthful desires that were faulty and resulted in less than truly successful outcomes.

As the aging process occurs, I remember several youthful desires that were faulty and resulted in less than truly successful outcomes. I will not serve that phony master again, even though the world sees it as success. I want real success.

God has given me—and gives me still—every good thing that I need. What I want most right now is to daily serve my Master, God, both Father and Son. I want to serve Them for the rest of my life. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:9).