August 27, 2009
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a story of God and mammon: "the Lord's Calf" from Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Since I blogged yesterday about how we cannot serve God and mammon (see here), I thought this excerpt from Martyn Lloyd-Jones' "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" was a fitting follow-up. I confess I can relate to his words here more than I would like to admit:
There is nothing in the last analysis that is so insulting to God as to take His name upon us and yet to show clearly that we are serving mammon in some shape or form. That is the most terrible thing of all. It is the greatest insult to God; and how easily and unconsciously we can all become guilty of this.
I remember once hearing a preacher tell a story which he assured us was the simple, literal truth. It illustrates perfectly the point we are considering. It is the story of a farmer who one day went happily and with great joy in his heart to report to his wife and family that their best cow had given birth to twin calves, one red and on white. And he said, 'You know I have suddenly had a feeling and impulse that we just dedicate one of these calves to the Lord. We will bring them up together, and when the time comes we will sell one and keep the proceeds, and we will sell the other and give the proceeds to the Lord's work.' His wife asked him which he was going to dedicate to the Lord. 'There is no need to bother about that now,' he replied, 'we will treat them both in the same way, and when the time comes we will do as I say.' And off he went. In a few months the man entered his kitchen looking very miserable and unhappy. When his wife asked him what was troubling him, he answered, 'I have bad news to give you. The Lord's calf is dead.' 'But,' she said, 'you had not decided which was to be the Lord's calf.' 'Oh yes,' he said; 'I had always decided it was to be the white one, and it is the white one that has died. The Lord's calf is dead.' We may laugh at that story, but God forbid that we should be laughing at ourselves. It is always the Lord's calf that dies. When money becomes difficult, the first thing we economize on is our contribution to God's work. It is always the first thing to go. Perhaps we must not say 'always,' for that would be unfair; but with so many it is the first thing, and the things we really like are the last to go. 'Ye cannot serve God and mammon.' These things tend to come between us and God, and our attitude toward them ultimately determines our relationship to God. The mere fact that we believe in God, and call Him, Lord, Lord, and likewise with Christ, is not proof in and of itself that we are serving Him, that we recognize His totalitarian demand, and have yielded ourselves gladly and readily to Him. 'Let every man examine himself.'–Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount: One Volume Edition" (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), 366-367
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Comments (6)
Martyn Lloyd again?
Funny how he keeps popping up for me this week!
@MC_Shann - Well, I do know "the Doctor" does turn up a lot here.
Right now I'm in the middle of reading several books by/about him. I actually read his Studies in Sermon on the Mount well over a year ago now and had this story tucked away but didn't post it until now. That book is a really excellent resource if for nothing else than the introductory chapters/sermons which really set the stage for the whole sermon on the mount (e.g.-explains the relationship of Christ to the law and so forth).
How I love MLJ~~~ Karen, this spoken to my heart in a very profound way, to something very specific in my life. The Lord has used this to clarify what He has been wanting me to see. I believe the Lord in His sovereignty has brought you into my life. Thank you, dear sister, for ministering to me once again.
Hi Karen. I read this easy to read M.L. writing about God and Mammon. I got a funny read on this whole subject when I became a Christian in 1965. The Baptist preached said that we were supposed to give 10% of our gross income to the Lord. He made a big deal out of it and admonished those who did not tithe to start, and those who tithed on the net to start with the gross. I was very poor and made little money. I heard another pastor say give what you can but be consistent. My first consistent offering was $1.37. That was easy, so we progress to $1.50, $2.00 and finally we were giving on the gross and giving additionally to missionaries. That became our pattern.
I personally do no think tithing is taught in the N.T., but it does not matter because I still spend more on me than God.
Then I noticed that Jesus complimented a poor gal with a couple of coins. She threw both in the offering plate. He said she gave more than anyone because she gave all the money she had. So from Jesus point of view, I concluded that the rules have changed again. It is not how much I give, but how much to I spend on myself. Well that was a wake up call in a sense.
I know the noble idea here is to see all of our possessions as belonging to God, but I like the practical. I have to pay attention on what I spend on myself. I just bought a new netbook which I saved up for. I did debate the issue. I had saved up enough to buy a really nice Toshiba laptop, but decided to make it a gift to my wife on our 54th anniversary. She loves it, but I now have a much cheaper netbook that I love.
I think M.L. points out that FRANK's money can get in the way of his love of God. I do average there, but he is right. Greed is a killer.
He actually made me think this morning. Sorry for long comment.
blessings
frank
@roseteacup - Maxine, You're welcome. I love how God's timing is perfect! As I mentioned in my previous comment I'd actually had this excerpt written a while ago but had put it away to post at a later date...His ways are inscrutable, are they not?
Your sister in Him,
Karen
@FRANK@revelife - Frank, this is a really convicting thought re: tithing:
it does not matter because I still spend more on me than God
No mincing words there at all!
We do have to get beyond just ideas to the practical, otherwise what's our faith really worth? If we don't do so, our faith is dead, is it not?
There are lots of things that can get in the way of our love for God, not just money. One of our former pastors talked about mammon as anything conferring status or value, so it really goes way beyond money to possessions, career, praise of men, etc., etc.
I'm glad ML-J made you think. He's smiling now, I'm sure. He was all about getting people to think and evaluate their own behavior in light of Biblical teaching.
No need to apologize for the long comment (actually, I wouldn't say it's all that long, esp. compared to some of mine
). I've enjoyed reading your thoughts here.
Blessings in Christ,
Karen