. When you see a dog following
two men, by John Macduff, you cannot serve both God and mammon. Matthew 6.24 of the enemies of the cross of
Christ, the Apostle declares that they mind earthly things. They are only concerned about
increasing their stores, and thus be able to say with a rich
man, of whom the Savior speaks, that they have much goods laid
up for many years, on the strength of which they intend to take
their ease, and eat, drink, and be merry. All their thoughts
are of the earth, earthy. The things of time and sense
they regard as first and last, middle and end. It is impossible
for the mind to be governed at the same time by two opposite
principles. The love of the world and the
love of God are diametrically opposed to each other. If any
man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend
of the world is the enemy of God. You cannot serve both God
and Mammon. To borrow a quaint illustration
from one of our old writers, when you see a dog following
two men, so long as they walk together, you do not know to
which of them the dog belongs, but let them come to a parting
road, and there separate from each other, then it will soon
be seen who is the owner, for the dog will follow his master
wherever he goes. Just so, an individual may pursue
the world and retain a Christian profession at the same time.
And it is often difficult to ascertain whether God or the
world possesses his affections. But by and by, he comes to a
parting road, when God calls him one way and the world another
way, and then he will show to whom he really belongs. If God
is his master, then he will follow and obey God, but if the world
is his master, then he will follow after it. O my soul, how are
you affected by the respective claims of the things of time
and those of eternity? After a few more rising and setting
suns, it will be a matter of total indifference to you whether
you have been rich or poor, successful in your business or unsuccessful,
But it will be of unspeakable consequence whether you have
fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before you in the
gospel. Listen, then, to the words of
the Lord Jesus, Do not labor for food that spoils, but for
food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will
give you. Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves
break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves
do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.