December 2024 From the Desk of Dave McLean

No Man Can Serve Two Masters

Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [WEALTH].”

While the context of this passage is wealth, this is a universal truth that cannot be defied. No man can serve two masters that are contrary to one another. He will either hate the one, and love the other, or else hold to the one and despise the other. This is God’s Truth!

To begin with, God did not create a second master, satan did when he rebelled against God. satan

doesn’t have the power and authority that God has, but he has enough to be a master over us as we give him

the authority. God says that you can only serve one or the other, and you cannot serve both. Then once you

pick your master, you “will hate the one, and love the other; or else you will hold to the one, and despise the

other.” This is seen in our spiritual relationship with either God or satan, neither are tolerant of sharing authority with the other. And since God is the one with the authority, power, truth and love, I encourage all to side with Him.

This truth is on display in all authority relationships. Let’s look at families. When a man and woman

marry, they become one, through covenant, emotionally and physically. Lord willing, they are also one spiritually, in Christ. This is also seen as they have children, the parents who were two prior to marriage, became one through their vow and marriage, now literally create “one” through the birth of their children. The Lord instructs children to obey and honor their parents. How do the children obey two parents, when the Lord tells us that no man can serve two “masters”? This is accomplished through the parents becoming one, and it shows the critical importance of the parents becoming and remaining one.

When the parents don’t “become” one, or if the parents were one and divide their oneness through divorce or division within their marriage, the children will then be under two masters and, sadly will struggle with hating the one, and loving the other; or else holding to the one, and despising the other. This is an epidemic within our society and this hatred and despising is leading to bitterness and destroyed relationships and families. I am convinced that the hurt and bitterness in our society is originating from this destruction of oneness in our families. I see it daily as I counsel and comfort at A Ray of Hope. Healthy relationships come from oneness and unity in leadership, and oneness in Christ, and when this occurs, children do not have to choose between two masters. Harmful and divisive relationships force the children to choose between two masters, and this is where the hurt and bitterness begins. In counseling, this is what I look for and this is what I seek to bring forgiveness and healing to, through Christ Jesus.

So how do we find harmony and oneness in our relationships, particularly when we have disagree-

ments? James 4:1, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your

lusts that war in your members?” It’s forsaking God’s desires and holding onto our desires that is causing conflict and splitting up relationships. The key to finding God’s heart and will is in surrendering our own. When we have disharmony in our relationships, the question is not what do we think, the question is what does God think! Let’s put our desires aside and sincerely seek God’s desire, knowing that we will find unity and harmony, not only in our marriage, and with our children, but in our lives.”

Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine

heart.” Bringing our heart into His heart causes God to meet our desires, because they are His desires. It is

here and only here that we will be satisfied, blessed, content and one. Not only in our marriage, but we create the environment where our children can be secure, knowing that they are loved and that they can love the two parents that are one-with each other and God.

Jesus prayed this for us, John 17:21-23 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in

thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” If you find that your marriage or children are struggling with loving or

holding to each other, examine your oneness to God and to each other.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, and we are blessed when we are one in them. We all have

a master (Romans 6:16), and we cannot serve two masters, so choose the Master who loves you and will bring joy to your life and home. Because I can tell you this, being yoked to the wrong master is a painful road to walk. Keep this thought ever so present in your mind, be one with Jesus so that your loved ones can

find oneness with you. And be particularly aware, that your division with the Lord, and your loved ones, has

consequences that will extend far beyond what you imagine or envision. We must sow to the Spirit and

love of the Lord, and be one, even and especially when we don’t want to, because division and rebellion, when lit, will burn and destroy beyond our control, and often to many generations. There is only one Master who will bless and grace you and your family, choose Him and hold to Him! In doing so, you will spare yourself and your children having to choose between one or the other.

Amen? Amen!