Serve God, or Money?
Christ conveyed the same thought when He said, "You cannot serve God and mammon [money, wealth, riches, things]" (Mat. 6:24).
Why, of course! Here is the answer!
Christ Himself tells us who — what to work for: God! A startling, even shocking, answer isn't it? But it is a PRACTICAL one! It expresses a workable principle. It is not just nebulous, sanctimonious, theological nonsense.
If we work for money we cannot be working for God. Therefore, we cannot be working for our own best interests. It is God who is truly concerned about our steady, sure, full success.
The devil's way is to get! Satisfy lust as quickly as possible. Satan has fooled us into believing his way is good and right. That is the reason men work so hard to get things for themselves. They put the cart before the horse. They live and work contrary to God's law and then are astonished when they are paid off in curses and wretchedness.
We simply must get right with God first! Then, He absolutely guarantees that our lives will be full and abundant.
If you've found yourself bogged down in a seemingly endless and wearisome routine of striving for financial success, stop! Take a look at yourself.
God doesn't want you on a dull and dreary treadmill following an unvarying round monotonously day after day. He doesn't want you to just endure a boring life. Jesus came to give you a full, vibrant, joyful life (John 10:10). You can have it if you'll go about it the way He says.
God will see to it that the rising cost of living doesn't leave you destitute.
He will move you into a bigger, better and more challenging job. You can become ever more productive and have the satisfaction of really serving. But first, you must understand the importance of service — GIVING!
Here is the fundamental answer to a full life: It is more blessed to give than to receive! (Acts 20:35)
Unnatural Method
Admittedly, this is a hard saying. It goes against the natural course of the world. But that natural way is diametrically opposed to God's way! The carnal — natural — mind is at enmity with God. Its very thoughts are contrary to the way of God. (Rom. 8:7)
This antagonism parallels the thinking of Satan himself and results in disobedience (Eph. 2:2). Mankind — apart from God — has spent all history in gratifying the cravings of his fleshly senses.
Nonetheless, God has demonstrated His way to peace and prosperity. He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who came and showed us how we ought to live. Christ was not at all concerned about getting for Himself. All of His efforts were expended in GIVING. Jesus has boundless generosity! He gave His very life so goodness can come into ours. It is a free gift! We don't have to earn it — indeed, we cannot earn it! You see, Jesus does not charge us for the work that He did. He worked hard — to death! But, He doesn't expect us to pay Him for His labor!
Admittedly, that is not the "natural" way to really succeed! It's most unnatural. But Christ has shown THE WAY to real success, physical, financial, and spiritual! As unnatural as that way might seem, and as contrary to human nature as it may appear, it is the ONLY way to REAL success!
The TRUE Way to Success
You need new ideals! You should soberly evaluate yourself. If you do this objectively, you'll find that you really weren't worth so much after all. No matter how long or hard we work we still come short of the perfection and production to which we should attain.
Certainly, each one of us has our individual gifts, talents, abilities. And we're expected to use these with fervor and zeal. We're supposed to produce. We're supposed to be successful workers. But that does not give the right to demand payment or anything. Rather, we are to GIVE, in service, and then wait for God to reward us. We're to do everything we are able with charity and cheerfulness.
God expects us to turn in horror from every wrong. He expects us to hold on to those principles and actions which are right in His sight. He demands that we show brotherly love to everyone. We're to try to build up and edify others — never try to take from them. We're to remain happy, hopeful, hospitable. Even in the face of deprivation, persecution, suffering we are to go right on doing a full, complete, and competent job.
We never have an excuse to be high-minded or conceited. We simply must make sure that our affairs are right in the sight of everybody. Live at peace with everybody. Never attempt to take revenge. Remember that God has promised, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back" (Deut. 32:35).
We must forsake competition. Our whole endeavor should be toward service. It isn't important how much a man has. It is important for him to properly use WHAT he has. Use yourself for good and God will give His special reward.
No Exceptions
But what if your employer underpays you and doesn't treat you right in other ways? Can you then slow down, slack off, insist on "your rights," and your money? Peter answers all such questions with an astounding statement. His instruction is wholly unheard of today in labor relations meetings. Shocking as it may be, here is what God inspires him to say, "Servants [employees] be submissive to your masters [employers] with perfect respect, not simply to those who are kind and reasonable [not to just those who pay as much as you would like to be paid] but to the surly AS WELL; for it is a merit when from a sense of God one bears the pain of unjust suffering. Where is the credit in standing punishment for having done wrong? No, if you stand suffering for having done right, that is what God counts a merit. And this is your vocation; for when Christ suffered for you He left you an example, and you must be following His footsteps" (I Pet. 2:18-21, Moffatt translation).
By the world's standards this is a most impractical approach. It places the employee in extreme jeopardy. It takes away his privilege to strike or retaliate. It abandons him to the mercy of his employer. It leaves him standing unprotected, vulnerable, ready to be blasted about by every whim of a tyrannical employer.
That it does, IF THERE IS NO GOD!
Believe God!
In order to operate successfully under this principle the employee must believe — REALLY believe — that God Is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
God has set a perfect law in motion which will provide every blessing and reward for those people who develop the character to follow His way. The good things WILL come ultimately! But God's way is utterly contrary to man's nature. It cuts jaggedly against the grain and seems an impossible solution to the problem of living. Nonetheless, God says this is THE ONLY WAY TO REAL SUCCESS!
Christ commands . . . "take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things" (Mat. 6:31-32).
Christ says we are not to be unduly concerned, or overanxious about the accumulation of things or money. Does that mean that we can just lie down and forget all about our jobs? CERTAINLY NOT!
We should work diligently because of a desire to be useful, and wisely manage our resources, realizing God will give us an ample reward for our labors.
It's a matter of putting first things first!
God wants you to have all of the really good things of life. He wants you to have money and the things which money buys! But He knows they'll hurt you if you acquire them before you've developed a right attitude and the character necessary to properly USE material things.
There is far more to life than accumulating money and things. Life has a much more profound purpose. You were boon to attain heights which few people even begin to comprehend. If you haven't read Mr. Armstrong's startling explanation of why you were born, write for it immediately. It's free for the asking. The title is, Why Were You Born? And while you're at it, write for The Seven Laws of Success and Ending Your Financial Worries, two other free booklets in which you'll find much useful information.
Develop Right Character!
The world today looks upon gain — the paycheck — as an expression of success — even godliness. STOP that sort of thinking entirely (I Tim. 6:5). Every emphasis needs to be on serving God FIRST! Then, work for an employer as if for God! Get away from the thoughts of security being found in financial success. True security is only found in God.
If we are Christians, we should "flee these things [the inordinate emphasis on material gain]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, for unto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses" (I Tim. 6:11-12).
Stop working for money and start working for God. LITERALLY! God puts it this way, "Servants [employees], obey in all things your masters [employers] according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, AS TO THE LORD, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:22-24).
The Creator has placed living LAWS in motion which directly regulate your personal income; your material success! OBEY those laws, and you prosper, break them — and they break you!
True, some have broken God's laws and still "prospered" in MATERIAL GOODS and MONEY! But their LIVES have been empty, wasted, futile. True prosperity means a deep feeling of satisfaction with what you have; appreciation for every material blessing; lack of hunger, poverty, privation and want — and that true prosperity is available ONLY by following the living laws that PRODUCE it!
Your Creator reveals mankind stands in contempt of the high court of Heaven — that man has broken the very laws that lead toward the peace, the joys and happiness he seeks! It's about time you discovered God's laws about your labor — your job — your income. Write for the booklets mentioned in this article if you haven't yet read them, and get started on the road toward TRUE success!