Two Masters?

Two Masters?

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity – 9/28/2025

Matthew 6:24-34

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer

That portion of God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our reading from the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew in the sixth chapter with special emphasis on verse twenty-four which reads as follows:

[Jesus said,] “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Every one of us has a relationship with money and possessions. Some of us have a lot, some of us have a little. Some are comfortable, others feel pressed on every side. But no matter our position, Scripture repeatedly reminds us: wealth is both a gift of God and a dangerous temptation. It can provide food for the hungry, or it can become a false god that robs us of faith in Christ. It can give great blessings, or it can lead to great anxiety. Today’s readings teach us how to manage wealth properly, that is,  as something to be received in trust, to be used in love, and to be kept from becoming an idol.

God Provides Daily Bread

In our Old Testament reading, Elijah comes to the widow at Zarephath during a drought. She has nothing except a handful of flour and a little oil. She plans to prepare one last meal for herself and her son before death by starvation. Even in this extreme circumstance, God provides for her daily bread. He uses the prophet Elijah to proclaim this promise and in so doing, her little becomes enough. The jar of flour and jug of oil do not run out during the famine that has overtaken the land, which was caused by a drought that lasted three and a half years.

This is what our Savior Jesus teaches us to pray in the Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer,  “Give us this day our daily bread.” As our Small Catechism reminds us, daily bread is everything we need to support this body and life: food, drink, clothing, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, and so on. God knows our needs. He provides them. They may not always come in the abundance we desire, but He always gives enough for us to live.

Notice the miracle given to the widow at Zarephath; the miracle is not piles of flour or vats of oil piled up into wealth. No, God does not make the widow rich. He sustains her day by day. He gives enough to live, enough to sustain her until tomorrow, enough for her to see that His promises are new and good every day. But even this meager gift of bare sustenance reveals something important about the things we have; they are to serve life, to sustain, to provide, but never to be clutched onto as if life depends on them. Even though we need food each day, we need God and His mercy, His providence, His grace even more. He is more basic to our needs and His promise is more foundational than even our basic foodstuffs that keep us alive each day.

Wealth as a Tool of Love

St. Paul writes: “Let us not grow weary of doing good… let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”[2] Wealth, then, is not simply for our own use. It is a tool for love and service.

The Christian view of possessions is outwardly focused. We are stewards of the things we have, not owners. What we have belongs to God, and he has placed these things in our hands for a time, so that we may care for others. This reflects how He cares for us. The Lord holds nothing from us that we need, not even His Son, our Savior. So too, we ought to use what God has entrusted to us to serve those around us.  “Bear one another’s burdens,” Paul says.[3] This is how wealth is rightly used. It is not for us to make ourselves comfortable in selfishness, but to lighten the load of our neighbor. That is, those around us that God has given for us to care for in our homes, our communities, our places of work, and, especially, in our church.

This does not mean carelessness with what God has given; good stewards should manage the property well. It means generosity. Our Master, our Father, is generous, and He desires us to manage His things with the same generosity. It means we must learn to see money and possessions not as treasure to be hoarded but as instruments to provide mercy. The early Christians shared their possessions freely. Christians today continue that same calling, each in our own place, according to our station in life.

The Danger of Idolatry

But while wealth is a tool for love, it can quickly slip from tool to master. And that’s why Jesus warns us of the danger: “You cannot serve God and money.”[4] The Greek word given to us here is “mammon.” Though it is translated here as money, mammon is not only money. It’s wealth and, importantly, the name of wealth and possessions that rises to the place of being a  false god. Jesus says you cannot serve both. Wealth can easily enslave us, not by its presence only, but by our trust in it. And this is not only for those who have wealth, it also shows its face when those who lack it desire it above all things. Mammon is a harsh master who never gives peace. If you are worried about losing money or about having enough, you have something of the opposite of peace. Instead, you have anxiety.

We all certainly know what it’s like to check the bank account again and again, wondering if the paycheck will stretch to the end of the month. Or to lie awake at night, worrying about retirement, tuition, or medical bills. This is where mammon becomes the most alluring, when it tempts us to trust it more than God.

Jesus points to the birds and the lilies. They do not worry, and yet God feeds and clothes them. Worry, then, is not just a mental habit, it is misplaced faith and trust. When we think our life depends on what we can accumulate, we slip into idolatry. When we believe that our possessions and wealth save us from harm, we slip into idolatry. When we do this, we cling to mammon instead of Christ.

When mammon becomes our god, it is never satisfied. Enough will never be enough. Followers of mammon live in fear of losing what they have. They serve their possessions rather than letting them serve their neighbors. Mammon always demands more: more time, more effort, more work, more in the bank. It is never satisfied and never looks beyond itself. This is the spiritual danger Jesus warns against.

Christ, Our True Treasure

How, then, are we freed from the idol of wealth? By the Gospel of Jesus Christ your crucified Savior. Jesus Christ has given you riches far beyond anything money can buy. He who was rich became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.[5] On the cross, He spent Himself utterly for you, to redeem you as His own, to buy you back from sin and death. And now, in Christ, you blessed saints of the Kingdom of God have forgiveness, life, and salvation. You are heirs of the Kingdom, and knowing this, mammon loses its grip. Possessions are put in their proper place. They are gifts, but not gods. They can be shared freely, because Christ is our treasure that cannot be lost.

Conclusion

The widow of Zarephath shows us that God provides daily bread. St. Paul reminds us to use our possessions to serve others. And Jesus warns us against turning wealth into an idol. Taken together, these Scriptures teach us to live as children of God: receiving with gratitude, giving with generosity, and trusting that our Father knows our needs.

So seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us. Wealth will serve its purpose, but only Christ is your  Savior. When anxiety about tomorrow creeps in, look to Christ. When mammon tempts you, cling to Christ. For He is your true treasure, and in Him you already have everything you need for life now and forever.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] Matthew 6:24 English Standard Version. All further quotations from the Holy Scriptures are from the ESV unless noted otherwise.

[2] Galatians 6:9, 10

[3] Galatians 6:2

[4] Matthew 6:24

[5] 2 Corinthians 8:9