Christians fight about how to serve God and mammon
They call it the oldest debate in human history: how can we serve God and also mammon? For centuries, this tricky question has defined the faith of countless Christians, many of whom have spent countless hours debating, discussing and wrestling with the answer. Yet it remains as compelling and pertinent today as ever, with some Christians carefully balancing the demands of spiritual purity and the practical demands of the modern world. So how are Christians battling to find a way to reconcile service to God with service to money and earthly materials? Let’s take a closer look.
1) Navigating the Debate: Serving God and Mammon
Serving God and Mammon
In a modern world filled with complexities and difficulties, it can be difficult to decide which is the right path to take: should we serve god or mammon? This is a debate that has seen its fair share of controversy. One side argues that God should be served first, while the other contends that economic concerns must come before all else. Taking a side on this contentious issue is no easy task.
Fortunately, there are ways to navigate the debate. To make a satisfactory compromise, one should strive to consider both concepts in a balanced manner. Firstly, one should acknowledge the importance of serving a higher power, such as God; serving God should be fundamental to one’s belief system and manifest in the way we live our lives. Secondly, it is equally important to pay attention to our worldly matters and pursue economic stability. These two stances need not be mutually exclusive and in fact, can work together in harmony. By taking a balanced approach, we can better serve God and mammon alike.
2) The Tensions within Christianity
Christianity is a complex and ancient religion that has profoundly shaped human culture and history. At its core is a system of faith and practice that has sparked debate, controversy and intense discussion for centuries. Despite its wide-reaching global influence and following, the beliefs and practices of Christianity have also created tensions and schisms between different branches and interpretations.
The most obvious division between Christians is between the Catholic and Protestant denominations. These tensions originated after the Reformation in the 1500s, when Protestant leaders broke away from the Catholic Church, so began a long history of division and disagreement between the two. Protestants and Catholics have experienced ongoing disputes over questions such as church authority, the role of priests, religious ceremony and the interpretation of Bible passages.
Within Christianity there is also a diversity of opinion when it comes to specific doctrines and theology, leading to a more subtle yet equally powerful fracture between denominations. The tension often takes the form of disagreement over issues such as the role of the spiritual and material worlds, the afterlife and conceptions of the divine. This has led to further divisions within Christianity in terms of which interpretation of the Bible is accepted, and how religious and spiritual practices should be carried out.
- Catholicism vs. Protestantism: Protestants and Catholics have experienced ongoing disputes over questions such as church authority, the role of priests, religious ceremony and the interpretation of Bible passages.
- Doctrinal Issues: There is also a diversity of opinion when it comes to specific doctrines and theology, leading to a more subtle yet equally powerful fracture between denominations.
3) Striking a Balance for Faithful Living
Faithful living consists of more than one singular focus. It requires striking a balance between the various aspects of life, such as work, parenting, faith and relationships.
It is true that God rewards those who put Him and his teachings at the center of their lives. But it is also true that faithful living must also be a holistic endeavor, as God rewards us for how we love others and act upon His teachings in our daily lives.
To develop this balance, it’s important to incorporate the following into your lifestyle:
- Set Priorities: Focus on the most important aspects of everyday life and decide what matters to you.
- Be Disciplined: Develop healthy habits and stick to them; practice self-control.
- Cultivate Relationships: Connect with God, yourself, family and friends – build and nurture those relationships.
- Be Flexible: Life is rarely predictable. Flexibility and being mindful of each situation is key – remember that you can’t be everything to everyone.
Furthermore, constant prayer, Bible study, and fellowship can help sustain faithful living and ensure that our lives honor God’s word. Prayer and meditation allow us to connect with God and recognize His purpose for our lives. Bible study helps us build an understanding of His teachings, while fellowship can provide us with the opportunity to share how our faith impacts our decisions and interactions with those around us.
4) Restoring a Kingdom Perspective to Spiritual Service
Serving God and the kingdom of Heaven requires us to step into the shoes of a true kingdom servant. From the outside looking in, it’s easy to think of spiritual service as a one-way street—God gives and we receive.
- A Different Perspective
- Restoring Kingdom Spiritual Obedience
But the truth is God desires a two-way relationship; He wants us to give as eagerly as He does. Establishing a kingdom perspective is about more than simply receiving and benefiting from God’s bountiful grace—it’s about appreciation and gratitude for the goodness we’ve been given. There’s a sense of joy and fulfillment in acknowledging the privilege of being able to serve God, and to do so with excellence. Kingdom service is an example of our willingness to put God first, show respect for His leadership, and to strive to do our best with the gifts and talents He’s given.
As we restore a kingdom perspective to our service, it also helps us to remember why we’re serving in the first place. Though it may seem as though we’re doing God a favor, He’s doing us the greater favor. We serve His kingdom not just because it’s an honor or it looks good on us, but because it’s an opportunity to experience His presence and to personally benefit from His acts of grace. Both Christ-followers and non-Christ-followers alike have found themselves caught in a tension between serving God and their own personal wishes, often leading to snubs and judgement in both directions. This tug-of-war between our spiritual devotion and earthly obligations are in some ways unavoidable and serves as a reminder to always align our priorities sincerely with our deepest values and to look beyond our narrow perspectives. May we all find more understanding, mercy, and grace–both for ourselves and others–as we grapple with the unique complexities of life.