15th Sunday after Pentecost – 21 September 2025

Theme: You Cannot Serve God and Wealth

(Eʋe: Mate ŋu asubɔ Mawu kple kesinɔnuwo o)

Texts: Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13

 Introduction

Beloved in Christ, grace and peace to you.

Today’s readings challenge us to face one of the greatest rivalries of the human heart—God versus wealth.

Jesus says clearly in Luke 16:13:

“No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Mammon here is an Aramaic word meaning riches or material gain, property, worldly goods or profit. In general use it was a personification of riches as an evil spirit or deity. This word not used in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it is used only by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16: 9 11, 13). In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,”Ye cannot serve God and mammon “(KJV). He meant that no one can be a slave of God and worldly wealth at the same time. The undivided concentration of mind to money-getting is incompatible with wholehearted devotion to God and to His Service. (Colossians 3:5).

Jesus does not condemn money itself; He warns against allowing wealth to become our master.

His words are absolute—“you cannot,” not “you should not.”

This teaching follows the parable of the shrewd manager where Jesus stressed faithful stewardship and exposed the Pharisees’ love of money.

Why Serving Both Is Impossible.

A. Competing Loyalties

God demands exclusive devotion (Exod 20:3).” Thou shalt have no other gods before me”

Wealth also demands trust and energy.

A boat cannot sail in two opposite directions; neither can a heart serve two masters.

B. Opposing Value Systems

God’s Kingdom: generosity, humility, eternal treasure (Matt 6:19-21).

Mammon’s Kingdom: greed, pride, temporary gain.

Mixing the two breeds inner conflict and hypocrisy.

C. False Security

Riches promise safety but are uncertain (Prov 11:28; 1 Tim 6:17). : He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch” (KJV). “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, which giveth us richly all things to enjoy”

Only God provides lasting peace (Matt 6:25-34).

D. Corruption of the Heart

Love of money leads to temptation and injustice (1 Tim 6:9-10).

Amos 8:4-7 warns that God sees when people exploit the poor for profit.

– God Hears the Oppressed. God sees the Injustice of the Land

Beloved in Christ, around 787 B.C. the prophet Amos addressed the nation of  Israel, enjoying material prosperity yet full of oppression. The people believed wealth excused their wrongdoing, but God sent a sobering reminder to them: He is not blind to the cries of the poor. The Lord loves the oppressed and is angered by the arrogance of the rich who exploit the land.

The Accusation (vv. 4–6).

Amos confronts merchants who:

1. Cannot wait for the Sabbath to end so they can resume dishonest trade.
2. Reduce grain measures, inflate prices, and even sell the sweepings of wheat.
3. Care more for profit than for the welfare of the people.

What we should learn from here is that, the greed that tramples the vulnerable is an offence before God.

Let’s see here the Divine Witness (v. 7)

 “The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: I will never forget any of their deeds.”

God Himself takes an oath that every corrupt action is recorded.

We should know that nothing escapes God’s notice—every deceitful transaction is exposed before heaven.

Know that no injustice is hidden; God keeps perfect records of everything.

Let us see here the Coming Consequence (v. 8)

The land will tremble, and rivers will rise.

National judgment will shake the people who built wealth on oppression.

Let’s beware that, when society builds prosperity on injustice, the whole community suffers.

In current dispensation, these things are still ongoing. Things such as

unjust wages, false measurements, and selfish ambition still grieve the Lord. Even land degradation and water pollution for wealth.

We are called to honest trade, fair treatment of workers, and to have compassion for the poor in society.

Wealth is a trust from God, never a license to exploit the poor.

My brothers and sisters in the Lord, the message of Amos is timeless: Righteousness must govern our marketplace and everywhere.

Let us repent of hidden greed, practice fairness, and use our resources to lift the needy—so our land may receive God’s blessing rather than His shaking.

Israel’s merchants cheated the poor. God declared, “I will not forget their deeds.”

Lesson: Economic injustice is a spiritual offence.

1 Timothy 2:1-7 – Prayer.

Paul urges us to pray for our leaders so that society may be peaceful and godly.

The scope of prayer such as  supplication, petitions, intercessions, Thanksgiving should be employed. Pray for kings and civil government and for everybody in authority. Prayer can have great effect.

Money and power must never replace prayer and dependence on God.

Luke 16:1-13 – The Shrewd Manager

The manager planned wisely for the future. Jesus commends stewardship but ends with the warning:

“You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Wealth is a tool for eternal purposes, never a master.

Central Truth.

Serving God means total surrender of heart, mind, and resources.

Serving wealth means trusting riches for security, shaping decisions around profit, and compromising values.

We may possess money, but money must never possess us.

Illustrations.

Story 1 – The Contented Fisherman.

A businessman urged a humble fisherman to expand, become rich, and retire to enjoy life.

The fisherman replied, “I already rise with the sun, fish a little, spend the afternoon with my family, and watch the stars at night. I am already living the life you say I must chase for decades.”

True wealth is contentment in God.

Story 2 – Two Masters.

A servant cannot obey two opposite commands—one says “Go north,” the other “Go south.”

Likewise, God calls us to righteousness and love, while mammon whispers, “Gain more at any cost.”

Obedience to one means disobedience to the other.

Application

1. Examine Allegiance – Who truly commands your decisions: God or money?

2. Practice Contentment – “Keep your lives free from the love of money” (Heb 13:5).

3. Stewardship with Purpose – Use resources to bless others and advance God’s mission (Matt 6:33).

4. Persistent Prayer – Pray for leaders, workplaces, and nations so hearts stay centred on God.

5. Single-hearted Worship – Acknowledge God daily as the Owner; treat wealth as a servant, never a master.

Conclusion & Call

Wealth can build hospitals, schools, and homes—but it cannot save a soul.

Jesus Christ gave Himself as “a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:6).

Today He calls each of us to choose our master:

“Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Let us seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt 6:33).

May we surrender again to the Lord who owns heaven and earth, trusting Him as our eternal treasure.

Amen.

Rev. Sylvanus Yao Kpodonu.