WHO IS YOUR MASTER?

No one 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. Luke 16:13

Who is your master? Here is a test to find out? If you had the opportunity to choose between overtime at work where you could earn time and a half and Sunday morning worship which one would you choose? Or here is another test, say you had ten dollars in your pocket and you had to choose between buying a nice dinner tonight and giving half of it to church and going to McDonald's instead, what would you choose?

Which do you hold on to tighter your checkbook or your Bible? Which one has received more of your attention? Which one have you spent more time thinking about? Have you spent more time at the store this week than at your chair or table reading God's Word, on your knees in prayer, or in your community sharing the love of Christ?

I am often amazed at how defensive and even angry people get when you start talking about stewardship and money. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because it happens all the time. People actually leave church and never come back because you ask them to give a tithe to the Lord.

Why do you think that is? Everything else is fair game. Everyone can know how much time you have and how many things you are good at doing, but don't you dare touch my money. Don't talk about it. Don't ask about it. And especially don't ask me to give more of it away. Could it be that our hearts and our attitudes are more attached to our money than they are to our faith, our church, and our God?

Last week there was quite a bit of panic when the Dow Jones had its biggest one day drop in history. My question to that is this: Who would put their trust, their faith, and their peace in something as volatile and uncertain as the stock market or in money period? Does our happiness and our security really rely on the Almighty dollar that much?

I have heard people speak of the "Great Depression" before. Many of them say that it was a very hard time, but most of those people also say that it was a time that they remember with fondness, because neighbors helped each other out, churches grew by leaps and bounds, and families grew closer together. It was a time of great need, but it was also a time of contentedness and happiness for people whose happiness didn't reside in their pockets.

I pray that it doesn't come to a "Great Depression" again. I don't want to see people lose their jobs. I don't want to see people lose their life savings. I especially don't want people to be thrown out into the street. It hurts to watch people suffer. At the same time God has always used hard times to bring people closer to him. My question to you is how hard is it going to have to get before you realize who your master truly is?

I pray that you get your priorities in order in your own way and in your own time and that you are not forced to do so. I pray that you realize where your spiritual bread is buttered and for that matter your physical bread as well. Come to your senses and know that in order to have true peace and happiness in your life, God must be your master and master of everything in your life! Learn that the secret to contentedness does not lie in the checkbook balance but in God's love, mercy, grace and peace that He gives to you daily in His Word. Realize that God loving you enough to send His Son Jesus to die on a cross for you is not just something for Sunday mornings and funerals but for every day of your life to give you hope and peace.

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeir

To God All Praise and Glory