The Two-god System
Scripture
Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.
~2 Timothy 4:10, NKJV
Quote
No man can serve two masters.
~Jesus of Nazareth
════════════ ✝ ════════════
Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells the story of the farmer who was blessed with the birth of twin calves. He was so excited that he ran to the house to tell his wife all about it. He said, “Honey, I think what we will do is raise these calves to weaning age and then sale them. We will keep the money for one and give the other to the LORD by donating the money to the church.” His wife said, “That is a wonderful idea. Lets go out to the barn and decide which one we are going to dedicate to the LORD.” He said, “No, that is not necessary, we can decide that later.” Months later, just prior to loading them up to take to the sale, he came in the house all dejected. “What is wrong with you?” Said his wife. “I have bad news,” he said. The wife said, “what on earth is it?” He said, “The LORDs calf has died.” She said, “You don’t know that, it could be our calf, you never made a decision.” “On no,” he said, “I am sure, it is the LORD’s calf that died.” Isn’t it strange that the LORD’s calf is always the one that dies. We get in a bit of tight and the first thing we do is cut our giving to the LORD’s work.
Demas was one of Paul’s co-workers. Paul mentions him, along with Luke, in Philemon and Colossians as a faithful fellow worker. He has stuck with Paul through out the entire Roman imprisonment but just before Paul’s execution, he leaves and we don’t have any idea where he went. Paul said he did it for the love of the world or literally, this present age. Did he do it for money? Did someone else offer him a raise? Possible but there are a lot of things to consider: Fear of persecution, desire for safety and comfort, or perhaps homesickness.
The bottom line is something in this present world lured him away from his post and though Demas started well, and served faithfully for years, he did not finish and Paul gave us the reason. There are many things about this present age that are unattractive: Sickness, suffering, sorrow, death, divorce and dissppointment to mention a few. But there are many attractive things that will seduce us and draw us away from our calling. The older we get the more we crave comfort. It is a huge temptation for a senior adult.
Of course I do believe that the big one is still money. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “You can’t serve God and money.” The two masters will not work. I can just here someone saying, “The King James says ‘mammon’.” I know, but it means money. This is why so many love the KJV, they can read it without understanding it. It is easier on the conscience. Just a couple of years out of seminary I was on the edge of being bitter about the lack of financial support I was getting from the church I was serving. An older and wiser preacher straightened me out. He said, “The church is not your supplier, Philippians 4:19 says, ‘My God shall supply ALL your needs. Now how many gods do you have?'” I said, “Two, I guess because I have not been looking to Him for the financial part.” He said, “You look to Him for everything…He said All.” I have never trusted a church to provide for my financial needs since and the LORD has done a marvelous job taking care of us. No complaints. How many gods do you have? One for your sins and another for your daily needs.
America’s 250 birthday tomorrow. Easy for me to keep up with since Joe David was a bicentennial baby born in 1976. All I have to remember is his age and add 200 and I have the age of America. I hope you and your family have a happy 4th. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a rain but I know some of you are excited about picnics and BBQ’s. DBC is hosting an extravaganza tonight. I am not sure what time it starts but I know they will have a huge fireworks show at dark. They will also have free food. Just go to their web site for more information.
God bless you and thanks for reading the blog.
Mens Breakfast coming up Saturday week at the POINT. That is July 11 at 8:00 am.