Two Masters

In studying John 12:3-6, I thought it was odd that Jesus would recruit Judas Iscariot to be His treasurer, when He knew that he was a thief. We get a glimpse of Judas’ heart when he chastises Mary for using a pound of very costly, pure nard to anoint Jesus’ feet. “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” Judas said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was in charge of the donations and would help himself to the money.

Jesus had taught the multitudes and the disciples, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” “No one can serve two masters for 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 God and money” (Matthew 6:19-24 NIV).

Jesus was speaking to the root of Judas’ carnality and double-mindedness, which was his lust for wealth and possessions. Although he was given opportunities to repent and turn from his sin of greed, he chose the love of money instead of loving and serving Jesus.

Jesus knew the sin in Judas’ heart and the choices he would make. Yet He gave him opportunity to accept or reject the truth; therefore, Judas could never say, “[ I ] knew nothing about this.” Does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay everyone according to what they have done?” (Proverbs 24:12)

We might wonder how Judas, a disciple of Jesus, could have betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver after being with Him and listening to His teachings? Sadly, there are “Christians” who are no different than Judas. Outwardly, they profess Jesus, attend church, and say all the right things. Inwardly, their hearts are far from Him. They are adulterers, fornicators, thieves in business, liars, greedy, rebellious, unbelieving, prideful, and refuse to turn from their sins. They believe that as long as they call themselves a Christian all is well with their soul. Unfortunately, they are deceived and live their life apart from God’s truth.

The Bible warns us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 1:0 NKJV) For that reason, we are cautioned to guard our heart, for everything we do flows from it (Proverbs 4:12). If we are not careful, both heart and mind will betray us.

King David, whom God had called, “a man after My Own heart,” let his guard down and committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of her husband, Uriah. Despite David’s intense love for God, in a moment of idleness and weakness, he succumbed to fleshly desires.

God sent the Prophet Nathan to expose David’s sin and give him a message. Then David repented, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die” (2 Samuel 12:13-14).

Sin always has its consequences. Christian apologist and defender of the faith, Pastor Ravi Zaccharias says this about sin: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

The beautiful Psalms of David came after he had repented of his sin, “You have searched me, Lord, and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely” (Psalm 139: 1-4 NIV).

David recognized his weaknesses as a man and called upon the Lord to help him discern when sin was crouching at the door of his heart. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (vs. 23-24).

Just as it was in the Garden of Eden when Satan packaged sin as a seductive piece of fruit, his methods have never changed. He seduced David with the alluring and beautiful Bathsheba. The enemy of our soul dresses up sin in ways that entice the double-minded (those who vacillate between two opinions) to mix sin with the things of God.

Christians who profess Jesus Christ as Lord but knowingly sin are double-minded. They are unstable in all that they do, because they are tossed and blown by the world’s false narratives. They do not have God’s Word firmly planted within their heart so they are unable to discern truth from the enemy’s lies. Those deceptions affirm their choices and lifestyle, so that they love the world and all it offers, while believing all is well with their soul.

The desires of the flesh are in opposition to the spiritually minded; therefore, a double minded person is easily drawn into immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and other sins of which we are warned that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).

Why do some struggle between two opposing worlds? There is an exhausting and deadly tug-of-war between good and evil. Those who embrace both worlds are playing a dangerous game with the dark side of sin. That risk is too great to gamble with one’s soul. Either we choose to follow God and His precepts and love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength, or we follow and conform to the things of this world. As Christians, we cannot have both.

The good news is that those who confess their sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive them and cleans them from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24 NIV).

God created us to fulfill His purposes and carry the light of Christ to the world, but it can only happen through willing, committed, surrendered, and obedient hearts. The question remains, “Are we double-minded or are we single-minded with hearts and minds focused on Christ?”

 PRAYER:  LORD, like David, I ask that you search my heart, and reveal any thoughts, actions, or lifestyles that are wicked or displeasing in Your eyes. Help me to recognize the enemy’s cleaver packaging of sin that would draw me away from You, for I desire to walk in holiness before You.  In Jesus name, amen.