No servant can serve two masters…[consequently], use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves. Similar to the account in the Gospel according to Matthew, we find here in Luke that the context for Jesus’ statement/saying on serving two masters is his exhortation on worldly wealth (money). Jesus exhorts his listeners not only to be weary of worldly wealth, but also to use them wisely (make for yourselves friends with dishonest wealth) so as to secure their future. This is because worldly wealth is fleeting: it is here today and gone tomorrow. However, in spite of its fleeting nature, worldly wealth can blind an individual into thinking that it is permanent. And when that happens, an individual can forget about what really matters and choose instead to focus on that which is not necessary. To his listeners, Jesus suggests a use of worldly wealth that doesn’t make one to lose focus. And of course the focus is God and God’s kingdom. But how can one use ‘dishonest wealth’ while remaining focused on God’s kingdom?
The secret is in treating worldly wealth for what it is: something that is meant to be used to make friends. In other words, wealth should not come between us and our brothers and sisters. The love of wealth should not replace our love of our brothers and sisters. Our love should not be disordered because of worldly wealth. When that happens, then we turn wealth into a master, and because we know there can only be one master, wealth replaces our real master, God. The absence of God in our lives, then, becomes the genesis of our problems. Without God in our lives, we cannot do right. Without God in our lives, it becomes easy for us to stray from the path which God has set for us. Without God in our lives, eternal life ends up being elusive. May we heed the words of Jesus our Master so that we can live our lives in accordance with God’s will.