(Today’s devo is a continuation of the last two days’ posts. You can find the first of the three here).
What does it mean to serve God instead of mammon? It is not coincidence that in this same Scripture passage, a few verses earlier, Jesus tenderly spoke these words: “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (v. 6). Serving God means to trust Him with all your heart for all your needs, knowing that He is intimately familiar with them. His attention is fixed on you at all times, and He promises never to abandon you. He will come through for you. Beautifully so.
In contrast, serving mammon means that you put your trust in money itself and the world’s system of acquiring it. Ironically, serving mammon is a kind of bondage. Just like happened with my great aunt, it haunts its servants with the constant fear of privation.
How Jesus longs to bring us into the freedom of understanding who our Daddy is! Here’s yet another related facet of the passage we are examining today: After telling us that Abba knows what our needs are, the Lord proceeded to teach us how to pray. Let’s meditate for a moment on these well-known phrases (vv. 9-11):
“Our Father in heaven…” Daddy. Papa. Abba. The One who loves me. The One who really likes me. The One who delights to protect me and provide for me. The One who’s got me.
“Hallowed be Your name…” I exalt You! I lift You up as holy, set apart, infinitely higher than all else! You are immeasurably greater than every circumstance around me! Holy, holy, holy are You!
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” Heaven. There’s no lack in heaven. There is abundant, overflowing provision in heaven. Your love-glory inundates heaven’s atmosphere with joy and peace and goodness and light. I am seated with You in these heavenly places of perfection. Let the majestic reality of Your realm come here and now, into this piece of earth where You have planted me. On earth as it is in heaven!
“Give us this day our daily bread…” My eyes are fully on You. You are keenly aware my needs. Here they are; I entrust them into Your unfailing care. I see You holding them carefully in Your immense, gentle hands. I know I have what I am asking for, cuz my Daddy loves me more than anything!
Do you see how asking for daily bread can flow with so much faith as we pray this way? Daddy intimately knows our needs. So we take our focus off them and lift our gaze to Him as the exalted One. We elevate our faith by joining in all of Heaven’s magnifying of His marvelous name. Then, from a perspective of wonderfully strengthened trust, we simply and effortlessly deposit our requests into His hands.
This is what it means to serve God and not mammon. And guess what? The deeper we go into this way of living, this singular focus on Him increasingly eliminates anxiety from our lives. Again, it’s no coincidence that the verse immediately following Jesus’ instruction to serve God and not mammon begins, “Therefore… do not worry about your life…” (v. 25).
The absence of worry flows naturally from a “good eye” focused on Him. This, precious friend, is what Daddy yearns to give us. God, and not mammon. What a glorious Master to serve!
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In what other ways does the god of mammon steal from its servants? How does this current worldwide crisis help reveal whether we have learned to deeply trust our good, good Master?
Feeding On Jesus 
Mammon is so insidious. when I read Paul’s letters I see far more community and sharing, but today so much selfishness, even in some churches sadly.
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It is sad, to see both the effects on the people who aren’t being helped by those who have more, and also to see the way mammon causes such real damage to those who are enslaved by it. Thank you, Paul.
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Couldn’t agree more, same here sadly.
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😦
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Where do people turn when they are in need ? Those in the world, without God, pursue what others claim to have. Often they turn inward to themselves. The out come, being good or evil, keeps them perpetuously on the wheel of no significant satisfaction. This is where the enemy wants to keep them. Then there are those who claim to believe that GOD is their provider. We see throughout the Bible, that those who practice this CLAIM receive all they need, from the Lord’s perspective, every time without fail. Many today profess that their needs will be met by God, yet their actions speak more loudly. I have been asked many times how I KNOW that I surrendered that which I need, to the Lord. the answer never changes – there is a PEACE in my spirit that can not be explained. I no longer manifest a drive or desire to “fix” my fears on my own or with the help of others. I give thanks to the Lord, in the moment, knowing all will be well. People seem to love options. They demand the right to pick and choose what will work best for them. Denying that which God says to do, is always disobedience. I hope some of these thoughts are helpful and beneficial to those who seek peace, in a world filled with needs that only the Father can provide. One God-one way-one answer. Len W
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It is notable that you have gleaned much wisdom from your years of walking with Jesus, and most especially the most recent seasons of your life. The fruit of peace and surrender that He has wrought in you is truly beautiful! He does all things well 🙂
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Jennifer, you are a light on a hill top for many that are seeking the truth and call of Jesus Christ. Your fervent pursuit for the purposes our Father has for you have been evidence of your obedience and therefore brings encouragement to those doing battle with the enemy. Thank you dear sister in Christ. Len W.
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That truly blesses me, my brother! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement 🙂
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Jennifer, Some time ago Holy Spirit enlightened me on the topic of serving 2 masters. Reading Psalm 37, He brought me to the familiar verse 4: Delight yourself in the lord and He will give you the desires of your heart NIV.
He told me that if I would delight solely in the Lord, He would directly give me all the desires of my heart, because as I delight in Daddy, I already have all I could need!
Blessings,
Chuck
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That is wonderful insight, Chuck! How exciting is the thought of delighting in Him so much that our desires reflect His own! 🙂
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