ARE YOU SERVING ONE, OR TRYING TO SERVE TWO?

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We read of men like Daniel and Paul, and admire their strength, their endless devotion to doing what is right. How does our level of devotion measure up? Do we have that same kind of integrity?

"Integrity, noun, steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code."

Do we steadfastly, consistently act as God teaches us to act? If you're honest with yourselves, you may realize that there are areas of your lives where you simply don't measure up. This seems especially common in young people, who haven't yet learned to fully give themselves to God, to get rid of some of their immature habits. Are you like that? Do you have those conflicting inclinations: a real and true desire to be faithful disciples of Christ, but also left-over inclinations of immaturity? These latter inclinations may involve sinful acts, or they may be a simple reluctance (or laziness) to actively serve and grow - that attitude also falls short.

If you realize this weakness, it might be comforting to think that you get most things right, and only fall short in a few areas. But there's no real comfort in that. Listen to Jesus: "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."

Do you think you can maintain your love for God, while you neglect to grow out of those immature inclinations? Think again. A man always ends up on one side or the other -- there really isn't a middle ground. You're either waging war effectively on the spiritual battlefield, or you've been taken by the enemy. Oh you may continue to do some things very well....but your refusal to grow will have you in the enemy camp regardless of your presence in the church building, or leadership in the congregation. Holding on to those old ways, you show that you count true righteousness as not worthy of your efforts...that's exactly what "despise" means. You despise righteousness and the Master you ought to serve, in order to serve yourself as master.

Satisfied trying to serve two masters, you end up serving one: the wrong one. And your heart is in the grip of the enemy, captured.

You want to be better than that, don't you? I know you do. Working toward "better than that" is what our study is going to be. We'll work on learning to serve just One Master, the One who is worthy of all!
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