God and Mammon

    The command of God is to be "careful for nothing," Phil. iv. 6; Luke xii. 22. Mammon is in every thing: "Eat the bread of carefulness;" the "bread of sorrows." The command of God is—" My son, give me thine heart." "If riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Give it me, saith Mammon—the thoughts of the heart; the affections of the heart; our love. Now, "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." The command of God is to wrong and defraud no man, 1 Cor. vi. 7, 8; 1 Thess. iv. 6. Mammon saith—Overreach any man for gain. The command of God is to make him our refuge: to fly to him, and hope in him: "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us." Mammon saith—Trust in me. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit." "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." As he, "I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." "If," said Job, "I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence:—this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above." The command of God is, that we be ready to part with all for his sake, and at his call, Matt. x. Mammon saith—Do not part with me. Rather sin than suffer. Rather let Christ go than riches; as the young man in Matt. xix. The command of God is, that we give, and forgive. Mammon is against both: a great enemy to charity, as Nabal; see 1 Sam. xxv. 10, 11. The command of God is, that we rejoice in him, and delight in him, Psa. xxxvii. 4; Phil. iv. 4. Mammon saith —Rejoice in me; see Job xxxi. 25, 28. The command of God is, "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." Mammon saith—No. Think. Talk. Travel. Do any thing for gain on the sabbath day.