“Gotta Serve Somebody”
Bob Dylan once wrote these lyrics: “You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed, you’re gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.” We live in a world with many demands. There are demands on our time, energies and attention. I would venture a guess that many of us spend time “taking care of business.” You know…job, school, financial planning; all things in preparation for the future endeavors we plan on pursuing. These are important things, without question. But has it ever taken over? That nudging that the world causes in our hearts. “Yeah, more capitol, more gain…let’s go for everything we can.” Where does it cross the line from being responsible with our jobs (or means of provision) and being in it for everything we can get?
First, we have to clearly establish that there is, in fact, a line which can be crossed. Jesus does this for us. Luke 16:13 says, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Well, there’s the line. But what’s all of that about “serving money”? You can’t serve money, can you? Oh yeah. You can. That phrase “a slave to the money” isn’t a joke. When it’s entirely about more, more and more, it becomes less and less about what the Father’s heart is in providing all of that for you. Moreover, it’s all His, isn’t it? He’s entrusting you with it, not asking you to enslave yourself to it.
I am of the opinion that one can be a slave to the money in both having much of it and having not so much of it. If God is about the heart, wouldn’t the fear of money be as crushing as the love of it? The fear of not having, of not being provided for can be just as gripping as the love and longing for more. Both stem from the same place-a preoccupation with financial gain without purpose beyond personal motivations.
The point is…who has your heart? It’s your heart that He’s after. Is it the fear or the longing for more or is it the One who provides for your needs? Is it the Lover of your soul of the fatness of your wallet? Because when it’s all said and done…you’re gonna serve somebody.
Recent Comments