Part 2: Why Jesus Singled Out Mammon

God’s Great Rival: Why Jesus Singled Out Mammon

Over the past several weeks, we’ve spent a large amount of time talking about mammon.

Some have probably wondered, “Why keep returning to this subject?”

For me, something changed recently.

A few puzzle pieces suddenly came together. I listened to videos from Andy Crouch and John Tyson that crystallized an idea I had sensed for years but hadn’t fully understood. Tyson summarized it with one unforgettable phrase:

"Abundance without dependence."

That is the promise our culture makes every day.

Not simply abundance—but abundance that frees us from ever needing God.

Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.

Our culture is constantly telling us a story about what it means to live a good life. It shapes our imaginations through advertising, social media, entertainment, politics, and even well-intentioned financial advice. It tells us that if we simply accumulate enough wealth, success, comfort, and security, we’ll finally be okay.

But Scripture tells an entirely different story.

One of the reasons we gather together is to create a safe place where we can examine the stories that have shaped our hearts. Together we can identify the lies we’ve believed, replace them with the truth of the gospel, and encourage one another to become the people God created us to be.‍

What Story Shaped You?

Think back to your childhood.

What picture of wealth captured your imagination?

For me, it was a Mercedes convertible sitting outside a dealership on the way to church every Sunday. Somewhere deep inside, I connected that car with significance, success, and happiness.

What messages did you receive growing up?

Perhaps you learned:

• Money equals security.
• Success determines your worth.
• Wealth earns respect.
• Independence is the ultimate goal.

Now consider the thousands of messages you receive every day through modern media.

What story is our culture telling you?

Why Did Jesus Single Out Mammon?

When Jesus spoke about competing masters, His words were surprisingly specific.

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” - Matthew 6:24

Many modern translations say money or wealth. Older translations use the word mammon.

Jesus could have said we cannot serve God and pleasure.

Or God and power.

Or God and politics.

Or God and knowledge.

Instead, He singled out mammon.

Why?

Philosopher Peter Kreeft defines mammon as the inordinate desire to possess wealth, status, power, or possessions far beyond what is needed for life and comfort. It is not money itself that is evil. Rather, it is the desire to make wealth our ultimate source of security, significance, and hope.

Money becomes especially dangerous because it functions like what Kreeft calls an “umbrella principle.” Money appears able to provide almost everything we desire. It promises safety, comfort, influence, freedom, and control. In doing so, it begins to imitate the self-sufficiency that belongs only to God.

Mammon whispers:

“I can give you everything you need so you no longer need God.”

That is why Jesus treated it as His primary rival.

Mammon isn’t simply about greed.

It is the desire for abundance apart from God.

The Great Lie

Mammon tells us:

• You need more.
• Protect yourself.
• Depend on no one.
• Build enough, save enough, earn enough, and you’ll finally be secure.

Many of us have believed these lies.

“I am safe because of my savings.”

“I am important because of my success.”

“I am secure because of my investments.”

These beliefs often sound wise.

They even sound responsible.

But underneath them is a subtle shift—from trusting God to trusting ourselves.

Scripture tells an entirely different story.

Jesus reminds us that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need.

He feeds the birds.

He clothes the flowers.

How much more will He care for His children?

The invitation of the gospel is not reckless living.

It is trusting that our ultimate security has never rested in our possessions but in our Father.

Why Mammon Is So Dangerous

The danger isn’t primarily money.

The danger is where money leads our hearts.

Paul writes:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap… Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”- 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Notice the progression.

The desire.

The trap.

The wandering.

Mammon rarely pulls people away from God overnight.

It seduces slowly.

It quietly shifts our trust from God toward ourselves.

Jesus describes the same danger in the Parable of the Sower.

“The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word.” - [.no-reftag]Mark 4:19[.no-reftag]

Wealth is deceitful because it promises what only God can deliver.

The abundant life is never found by pursuing abundance.

It is found by pursuing Jesus.

Mammon Closes the Heart

Mammon doesn’t simply affect our relationship with God.

It changes how we see people.

When life becomes about accumulating possessions, people begin to feel like threats rather than opportunities to love.

Walls go up.

Generosity declines.

Compassion shrinks.

John writes:

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” - [.no-reftag]1 John 3:17[.no-reftag]

Jesus laid down His life for us.

Mammon teaches us to preserve our lives for ourselves.

These are two completely different ways of living.

God’s Alternative: Abundance Through Dependence

The gospel also promises abundance.

But it is abundance rooted in dependence upon God.

Hebrews reminds us:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” - [.no-reftag]Hebrews 13:5[.no-reftag]

Biblical contentment is not based on what we possess.

It is based on Who possesses us.

If God has already given us His Son, what ultimate good will He withhold?

Many Christians live like spiritual paupers while possessing unimaginable riches in Christ.

The Christian life is not one of scarcity.

It is one of abundance through dependence.

Gratitude: The First Antidote

Gratitude dismantles the illusion that we are self-made.

Every good gift comes from God.

Gratitude changes our perspective.

It moves us:

• from entitlement to gift
• from scarcity to abundance
• from fear to trust

The more we soak our hearts in the truths of the gospel, the less convincing mammon’s promises become.

Generosity: The Second Antidote

Every act of generosity is an act of resistance against mammon.

When we give, we are making a declaration:

Money is not my master.

Jesus is my Lord.

Giving is not simply supporting ministry.

It is worship.

It is spiritual warfare.

The early church understood this well. Their radical generosity wasn’t produced by guilt. It was produced by grace.

They had discovered that God’s abundance freed them from clinging tightly to their possessions.

Two Competing Stories

Every day we are living inside one of two stories.

The Story of Mammon

Why are we here? Pleasure.

What’s wrong? We don’t have enough.

What’s the solution? More.

What does salvation look like? Success, luxury, comfort, and abundance apart from God.

The Story of the Kingdom

Why are we here? To know and glorify God.

What’s wrong? Sin has separated us from Him.

What’s the solution? Jesus Christ.

What does restoration look like? A redeemed people living under the reign of King Jesus in a redeemed creation.

Only one of these stories is true.

The Question We Must Answer

Mammon says, “You do not have enough.”

The gospel says, “In Christ, you already have everything you truly need.”

The question is not whether we desire abundance.

We all do.

The question is where we seek it.

Will we pursue abundance apart from God?

Or will we discover the far greater abundance that comes through deeper dependence on Him?

That choice is shaping every decision we make—and every person we are becoming.

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