You cannot serve God and money.

You cannot serve God and money.

1 AND he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused before him, that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of you? give an account of your stewardship: for now you can not be steward any longer.
3 And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, since my lord takes away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed.
4 I know what I will do, so that when I will be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5 Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much do you owe my lord?
6 But he said: A hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take your bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7 Then he said to another: And how much do you owe? Who said: A hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take your bill, and write eighty.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.
9 And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the money of iniquity; that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater.
11 If then you have not been faithful in the unjust money; who will trust you with that which is the true?
12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's; who will give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The love of riches, power and self-love has been the downfall of many. Some work very hard to achieve success in their lives at the cost of their own salvation. They make money their false god who cannot save but condemn. In the process they appear to be smarter than other men who struggle to survive in a world full of competition.

This is the wisdom of the children of the world, which is so revolting in my sight. All the riches that I have created are for the common benefit of mankind, not for the selfish growth of individuals who take advantage of others. In the previous parable it is shown how man is desperate for the high opinion of others and disregards the opinion of his master. It illustrates how a man is so inadequate to administer the riches that are given from above. Indeed, money has been the reason for corruption throughout the ages because it gives power and buys friends, but it is the weakness of the man who being so rich can not enter the kingdom of God, who amasses his fortune at the price of injustice and who places himself on a high place at the cost of charity.

The riches of this world are really nothing compared to the riches of everlasting life, therefore if a man cannot give a good account of the little wealth that he receives here; it is very difficult for him to receive more, since this may be the cause of his misfortune. The problem with the rich man is that he becomes obsessed with money, to such an extent that he forgets about the kingdom of Heaven. He becomes the slave of his own destruction.

I have come to give an example of detachment, self-denial and acceptance of the will of God. He who insists in becoming rich may obtain his goal but at the cost of his own salvation unless he practices charity and justice. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary