10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13 “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.”
Many people have taken this Bible verse out of context. As a result, some spiritually minded people choose a life of poverty or do not charge for their services. Others believe that it is against God’s will to be wealthy. However, the following verse makes it clear that devotion to materialism is detestable to God.
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Luke 16:10-14
We are also reminded that even if we try to fool ourselves or others in this and all matters, God knows our hearts. Where does your devotion lie, in this life or eternity?