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.
This passage of scripture teaches us the solemn truth that it is impossible to harmonize the pursuit of money and material wealth as an all-absorbing interest, with the pursuit of a relationship with God, for sooner or later one will take precedence over the other. In other words, if for some reason our main goal in life is to get rich and live luxuriously on this earth, then the interests of the kingdom of God will ultimately be made subservient to the accumulation of wealth, and if a choice to the contrary is not made, then everything that is spiritual and eternal in nature will wither away in our minds, and we will sink our roots deeper and deeper into the things of this world until there remains no remedy.
This is what took place with Judas who asked to join the inner circle of disciples, with the intention of making a name for himself in fame and fortune, hence the reason why Jesus' response to his request seemed less than enthusiastic. Let's read:
Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
As Judas saw the people coming to Christ and being healed both physically and spiritually, his heart was partially touched, and when he made his request to Jesus, he was not turned away, for God's desire is that all of us should be saved in His kingdom. But Judas had not given up his earthly ambitions of self-aggrandizement and prosperity, and he hoped in vain to strike a balance between serving God and mammon at the same time, and because of this, his delusive hopes and dreams were to be disappointed in a most humiliating manner. His after history and his manner of death by hanging, shows us the futility of trying to combine the two opposing ideologies, and the sad history of Judas' life and demise were written in the scriptures so that we also may not be deluded as to what constitutes true greatness.
In our day there is to be seen a mad rush to accumulate wealth and retire in luxury, and even in some Christian circles there are frenzied efforts to present and encourage what is now known as the "Prosperity gospel", where millions of subscribers are taught to look at the gospel as a means whereby earthly fame and fortune can be realized, and it is because of this warped and satanic misinterpretation of the scriptures why the pure truths of God's word are being either watered down or thrown out as not being relevant to the pursuit of wealth and material things.
Let us then be very careful not to be sucked in by these prevailing ideologies and falsehoods, for at the end of life's journey, when all the chips are tallied, it will be seen that those who gave and spent all for Christ will be the eternal beneficiaries of the immortal inheritance, while those who like Judas, planted their roots in this world by pursuing only temporal interests, will meet with eternal loss, never more to arise again. That's why we end with a passage of scripture which cautions us against indulging the desire for wealth and riches, but instead encourages us to pursue those ideals which will endure unto eternal life. Let's read:
1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what The Spirit says to the churches. "Good night" and God bless!