Many theologians have contemplated the balance between following Jesus Messiah and managing money. The Monastic Movement believed money and wealth was harmful to the Gospel and Christian living, "but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful," (Mark 4:19) and "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22). Ascetics, Monks and Nuns believed that it is better to be beggar than to have earthly riches and harm the evangelion (gospel). On the opposite side of pendulum is the Prosperity Doctrine, which is in full force today, and it promises people perpetual treasures and triumphs without tribulation. The problem with Prosperity Doctrine is that it does not prevail in poor districts and neighborhoods where people cannot escape their poverty like in slums of India. The question then stands, what are we to do with wealth? Can you serve the Christ and fill your coffers? Can there be balance between the two? Does money always corrupt the Church and Christ's mission? Let us examine the Scriptures to ascertain the answer.
The most famous verse that has puzzled doctors of theology and the Church is, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24). This verse seems counter cultural, and impossible to follow in the modern world, but it contains an important message that is often passed over. The original wording Jesus used was, "You cannot serve both God and Mammon." (Matthew 6:24). Mammon was the god of money, a deity that provided precious metals, particularly gold to its worshippers. At face value it seems the Savior is telling us the enemy is money, that this idol has power to lead us astray, keep us from being resolutely devouted to Immanuel, and ultimately monopolizes our time on earth, all of which is true but actually, Mammon, the god of money has a more familiar name, Satan. The Lord says that Lucifer (Tyre) fell and this was one of his characteristics, "Your rich commerce (Trans. abundance of trade/Merchandise) led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian (Cherub that Covereth), from your place among the stones of fire." (Ezekiel 28:16). The devil's device was commerce, He created the lust for riches and trade, and thus money was his creation. The wife of the devil is Babylon, who is the Harlot (Revelation 17-18) and she is a city, "Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour your doom has come!’The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves." (Revelation 18:10-13). Bablyon is probably Rome then and now, for Jesus says, "Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him." (Mark 12:17). Christ says this about a tax to Rome, and the coin with inscription on it (Mark 12:13-15). If we connect the Gospel account with the facts that Satan is author and lord of money, his name Mammon, and his wife be City of Babelyon, it then seems likely Jesus might have meant Satan is Cesar, or at very least his tax collector.
Jesus says in another verse, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." ((Matthew 6:19-20). Here once more Jesus urges His disciples to avoid storing up wealth on Earth, and to instead being preoccupied with putting treasure in heaven. Christ warns that wealth can choke the word, "but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19). This is why the Apostle Paul boasted, "You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us," (2 Corinthians 2:17), "What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel," (1 Corithians 9:18), "If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ," (1 Corinthians 9:12). The Apostle Paul did not want to hinder the gospel by taking money for preaching, he knew that if he did, he would become subject to control of the donors just as many pastors are controlled by the congregations that pay their paycheck and thus have the "word choked" out of fear of man (Matthew 10:28).
Jesus says another hard saying about rich men, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24). The Disciples react to this, saying, "then who can be saved?" (verse 25) Jesus responds, "What is impossible with Man is possible with God." (Verse 26). Christ is making a point about riches, that a man who wants to follow the Word of God struggles because he is checking the Wall Street Journal and apps displaying the DOW and other markets. The rich man has divided heart, and this makes it impossible for him to be a disciple, a believer maybe, but not a disciple. It was for this exact reason Emmanuel turned the rich young man way (Mark 10:17-22). He knew that this young man cared too much for his wealth and could not give his whole heart to the Word of God.
The religious leaders of Jesus' Day were the Pharisees and Sadduccess. These two sects sat on the seat of Sanhedrin and they bought their positions from Rome and were appointed by Herod Aggirpa the Half Arab. Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were actually Half Arab and Half Jew; none of them came from Levite or Aaronic lines, nor was any from high priesthood line of Cohan save two men, Zachariah and John the Baptist. Simony is Medieval term for buying your position in church and it comes the Book of Acts in the Bible, and derives its name from Simon the Sorcerer who tried to buy the gift of Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-25) so he could use it for profit, is mentioned as also withholding promised money for a purpose as in case of Annais and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11, they were both struck dead by Holy Spirit!), and was certainly already at work with the Pharisees in 33 A.D. In fact it was money that made Pharisees able to arrest Jesus, for Judas was paid thirty pieces of silver. After Satan entered Judas (John 13:27), the Betrayer went to Sanherdrain and asked for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15), and He betrayed Jesus over money. No surprise, who is god of money? Mammon-Satan! Interestingly, Judas later returns the money saying, "Take the silver! I have beteayed an innocednt man," (Matthew 27:3) but religious leaders say "what is that to us?" (Matthew 27:4), and Judas throws the silver on ground ,"Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself." (Matthew 27:5). The Sanherdrain decide to use money to buy a field, "The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood."And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter's Field as a burial place for strangers. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER'S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME." (Matthew 27:7-10). The Pharisees and religious leaders use money, the seed of Mammon to pay false witnesses to bear false witness against Jesus during His trial, "But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed," (Matthew 27:20). What means could these 'holy men' use to persuade a mob? The answer is money. For it is wealth that makes people quickly forget their wanting of a deliverer, for these same people had shouted Hosanna and welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem like a king (), not they want to crucify Him. The Pharisees and religious leaders did bribe with money as aforementioned with Judas and then later with guards of Tomb of Jesus, "Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." (Matthew 28:11-15). The religious elite of the day used money to control everything, they were not men of God, but men of Gold. Jesus confronts thme saying, "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." (Matthew 23:16-24). Notice Jesus even says you have neglected the more important matters of Law, justice, mercy, and faithfulness, but instead give alms like spices, mints, and more in trade; was this not what Harlot Babelyon traded in? (Revelation 18). Perhaps the Harlot that God urges the church to come out of in Revelation () is this Simony, love of money, and service to Mammon rather than the Messiah. "You thieves, you say money you can give to support your parents is corban, and so put your parents on street." (Mark 7:10-12, JG Paraphrase).
The most radical scene over money is whne Jesus Christ clears the temple and testifies, "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN." And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them," (Matthew 21:12-14), "And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching," (Mark 11:17-18), and "Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace (business, trade, commerce)!" This once instance of the Wrath of God through Christ called righteous indignation shocked the disciples and crowds, "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves," (Matthew 21:12), "Jesus made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables," (John 2:15), and "When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling," (Luke 19:45). It is important that people understand this is how God feels about turning places meant for seeking the Prince of Peace, and King of Universe into places of Simony and silver. Christ was outraged that the house of Lord, a place where people were to seek God had become a marketplace. The outercourt where this market was set up, originally was called Court of Gentiles, where unbeleivers could listen to cantors and Scriptures and become beleivers, like the Centurion who build synnagogues (Luke 7:1-8). But because of all noise, no unbeliever could hear the cantors or scriptures being read. I imagine Immanuel would feel same about modern day houses of worship, with all tithing and commerce and programs. Another point to be made is that the Pharisees seeing how this teaching Jesus turning over tables was amazing the crowds threatened their business of religion (Mark 11:18).
There is a positive story of someone with wealth being transformed by the Truth. A man named Zacchaeus was a wealth tax collector and has reputation for stealing honest people's money. This same man seeks the Savior when He comes into town and Jesus actually goes to his house to dine, and from this experience, Zacchaeus is changed, "Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:8-9). Take note Zacchaeus did not sell all his possessions or wealth. An opposite account is Judas Iscariot, "But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, saidWhy was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it." (John 12:4-6). Here one man Zacchaeus gives to poor out of conviction and concern, while Judas makes up a pretext to get money for himself, this is why the heart matters to God (). For the Apostle Paul writes regarding giving, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver," (2 Corinthinas 9:7). The Prosperity doctrine mentioned earlier runs on this verse, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it," (Malachi 3:10). It is from this Malachi verse that many huskters (2 Corinthians 2:17) and Prosperrity preachers get people to give lots of money to be blessed, even liquidating major assets, but this violate the Apostle Paul's words, "Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have." (2 Corinthians 8:12). Many pastors and collectors for a tithe violate 2 Corinthians 9:7 and 2 Corinthians 8:12, making people feel under compulsion to give or else they will not get the blessing and asking them to give what they do not have.
It is important ot note that Immanuel chose for disciple, Matthew the Tax Collector (Matthew 9:9-13). It is indeed Matthew who collects the most minute messages about money in eyewitness account (gospel). Matthew as well as the Messiah are no doubt mad that the church has become about money rather than the message. Churches are now collection agencies using programs, charities, tithes, markets, gift shops, sales tables, clubs that require $20 minkum book purchase, and more. The Roman Catholic Church alone is an estimated $1.5 Billion dollar instituon making billions annually. The Medieval supsersitions, cults of the cross and Virgin Mary, pennances, pilgrimages, parish giving, compulsive almsgiving, and pious purchases of pieces of art, books, jewlery and more makes the coffers of the Catholic Church ring. But Protestant churches are no better, convincing Christ followers they need Christian best sellers by names like Beth Moore, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Francis Chan, T.D. Jakes, Tony Evans, and that the commentaries of clergy (pastors) on Sunday are worth paying for Costco size warehouse building with its water, electric, heating and cooling bills. Many business men even admit they only attend Sunday meeting to meet affluent people for future financial partnerships. Can you hear Christ crying, "He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves." (Luke 19:46). But alas the church building itself is mockery, for we are God's temple, "Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16), "For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building," (1 Corinthians 3:9), "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple," (1 Corinthians 3:17), "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people," (2 Corinthians 6:16), "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit," (Ephesians 2:22), "if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth," (1 Timothy 3:15), "But Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory," (Hebrews 3:6), and the New Jerusalem will have no temple, "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:22).
The Apostle Paul said of money, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10). Love of money is love of its maker, the evil one. We live in a world of currency and it seems inevitable that we shall have to use money, but we should never mistaken stewardship with serving Mammon. As Christians we need to pay heed to Christ's warning, and to "give to Cesar what is his, and give to God what belongs to God." (Mark 12:17). Pay your taxes, bills, and necessities, and even good desires like buying Bibles and books for study; but never forget that that money comes from the malevolent one and so it has the power in your life to lead you astray, make you trust in it rather than the Almighty, and to annihilate people who get in your way. Jesus said of the concerns of necessities, "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:26-34). In these words of the Word of God, Christ our Lord we find comfort for our souls. He is harkening to point with "seek first kingdom of God," by leading us to where our love must be rather than money, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:26-34). Love the Lord and All will be added unto you, love money and you shall become like its maker, the devil.
Notice that Messiah is seven letters, seven is number for God, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work," (Genesis 2:2), "The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches," (Revelation 1:20), "This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne," (Revation 1:4), and "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth," (Revelation 5:6). In contrast Mammon is six letters which is number of man and the mark of beast, "This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666." (Revelation 13:18). It says that people will have to take mark of beast to buy and sell, "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17). This alludes back to the Harlot Babylon's trade and commerce, "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate." (Revelation 16:10-19). Lucifer, Satan-Mammon created this merchandise, "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities (think about Pharisees from earlier), by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee." (Ezekiel 28:14-18), and "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell (Revelation 20:10), to the sides of the pit," (Isaiah 14:12-16), "He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," (Luke 10:18), and "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back," (Revelation 12:7), and "The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." (Revelation 12:9). The Apostle Paul says that in last days people will become like this, "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith 9But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also." (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Money shall play a big part in Man of Sin (2 Thessalonians Chapter 2, Revelation Chapter 13)'s plans. So all the more to be wary of being ensnared in Mammon, and instead loving Lord your God (Jesus Christ Romans 10:9) with all your heart, mind, strength, and sou. (Matthew 22:26-34).
The Apostle Paul said of money, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10). Love of money is love of its maker, the evil one. We live in a world of currency and it seems inevitable that we shall have to use money, but we should never mistaken stewardship with serving Mammon. As Christians we need to pay heed to Christ's warning, and to "give to Cesar what is his, and give to God what belongs to God." (Mark 12:17). Pay your taxes, bills, and necessities, and even good desires like buying Bibles and books for study; but never forget that that money comes from the malevolent one and so it has the power in your life to lead you astray, make you trust in it rather than the Almighty, and to annihilate people who get in your way. Jesus said of the concerns of necessities, "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:26-34). In these words of the Word of God, Christ our Lord we find comfort for our souls. He is harkening to point with "seek first kingdom of God," by leading us to where our love must be rather than money, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:26-34). Love the Lord and All will be added unto you, love money and you shall become like its maker, the devil.
Notice that Messiah is seven letters, seven is number for God, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work," (Genesis 2:2), "The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches," (Revelation 1:20), "This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne," (Revation 1:4), and "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth," (Revelation 5:6). In contrast Mammon is six letters which is number of man and the mark of beast, "This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666." (Revelation 13:18). It says that people will have to take mark of beast to buy and sell, "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:16-17). This alludes back to the Harlot Babylon's trade and commerce, "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate." (Revelation 16:10-19). Lucifer, Satan-Mammon created this merchandise, "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities (think about Pharisees from earlier), by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee." (Ezekiel 28:14-18), and "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell (Revelation 20:10), to the sides of the pit," (Isaiah 14:12-16), "He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," (Luke 10:18), and "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back," (Revelation 12:7), and "The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." (Revelation 12:9). The Apostle Paul says that in last days people will become like this, "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith 9But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes's and Jambres's folly was also." (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Money shall play a big part in Man of Sin (2 Thessalonians Chapter 2, Revelation Chapter 13)'s plans. So all the more to be wary of being ensnared in Mammon, and instead loving Lord your God (Jesus Christ Romans 10:9) with all your heart, mind, strength, and sou. (Matthew 22:26-34).
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